Z is for Zebra Crossing

The Zebra crossing is the earliest of the Animal Crossings and is most similar to pedestrian crossings found throughout the world. It consists of white stripes across the road, with Belisha Beacons (named after Leslie Hore-Belisha, who was the Transport Minister in 1934, when these crossings, minus the Zebra striping were introduced.)

Photo by camcycle.org.uk

It’s a tricky dance of who has priority in a Zebra Crossing: Motorists must give way to pedestrians who have started across (one foot on the crossing) but should not stop at a crossing if the pedestrian is still on the sidewalk. And one should NEVER NEVER NEVER wave a pedestrian to cross if they haven’t done so of their own accord. Thus the Driving Code handbook states you should “slow and be prepared to stop” upon seeing a pedestrian standing at a Zebra Crossing.

[Oh, and thanks to Jonny Lee Miller, I am now savvy to the pronunciation: it’s Zebra, with a soft ‘e’, not ZEE-bra. 

And, according to Peter Hitchins, Zebras are the real “pedestrian controlled” crossings, and after reading his diatribe, I must admit, I agree.

**Breaking News**

A newcomer to the Crossing Zoo is the Tiger Crossing. I mention this type here, as it is mainly a zebra crossing that is yellow and black, in which cyclist may also cross. This is new to the Crossing Zoo, and isn’t even in the Highway Code book yet; it is being rolled out in London first.

So, that’s it, folks…Hope you enjoyed our A-Z romp through the highways and byways and carriageways of the British Driving Code. Phew!

Anyone care to guess how many tries it took for me to pass my test(s)?

 

ONE! Husband and I now have official British Drivers’ Licenses!!