13.3 Zebra & Green Man Crossings

13.3 Zebra & Green Man Crossings

Quick Answer: At a zebra crossing, give precedence to pedestrians on the crossing; approach ready to stop; do not overtake a vehicle stopped for walkers. Respect zigzag controlled areas (no improper overtaking/waiting). At green man crossings, obey signals; do not start through while people are still clearing; never stop on the stripes. Keep yellow boxes clear unless the exit is free (with limited right-turn exceptions). Crossings are not taxi stands.

Sections 13.1–13.2 built junction priority and vulnerable-user care. This section is the marked-crossing cluster of the Road Users’ Code — zebra crossings, signal-controlled (green man) crossings, zigzag areas, and the related “do not occupy the conflict paint” rules including yellow boxes. Part B loves short scenarios: a car stopped at stripes, a taxi about to pass it; a green light with people still mid-crossing; a hail standing on the zigzag. Train yourself to name the marking, then apply the pedestrian-first rule.

Why Crossings Are Exam Magnets

Crossings are where:

• Pedestrians have heightened protection under the Code
• Drivers face temptation to save seconds by blocking, overtaking, or stopping on paint
• Taxi work generates door activity right next to walking desire lines

If you remember only one sentence: people on a crossing come before your convenience, meter, or green light ego.

Zebra Crossings: Give Precedence on the Crossing

A zebra crossing is marked with stripes on the road for pedestrians, typically with related beacons/signage as provided in the layout. The driver rule to lock in:

Core duties

1. Approach with care — speed low enough to stop smoothly if someone steps onto or is already on the crossing
2. Give precedence to pedestrians on the crossing — if they are on the stripes, you yield
3. Be ready to stop for pedestrians waiting in circumstances where the Code and safety require you to let them cross
4. Do not overtake the vehicle nearest the crossing if it has stopped or is stopping for pedestrians — you may be overtaking into people you cannot yet see
5. Do not stop on the crossing to wait, pick up, set down, argue a fare, or check a phone

Practical taxi picture

You are approaching stripes. A private car ahead brakes. You cannot see why. Correct instinct: cover the brake, do not swing out to pass. Passing a stopped vehicle at a zebra is a classic multi-victim error: children or adults may be hidden by the stopped car’s bodywork.

After pedestrians clear

• Move off only when the crossing is clear and it is safe
• Check for late pedestrians who start from the other side
• Do not accelerate aggressively “to make up time” — passengers feel it and following drivers may not expect it

Zigzag Controlled Areas

Many crossings have zigzag road markings on the approaches. These mark a controlled area with special restrictions. Exact wording on signs and the Code should be followed, but the exam-stable ideas are:

What zigzags are for

• Keep the approach visible so drivers can see pedestrians
• Prevent vehicles from waiting or parking in the zone in ways that hide walkers or block the crossing
• Restrict overtaking behaviour that would endanger people on or about to use the crossing

Taxi translation

If you need to pick up near a crossing, stop beyond the controlled area at a lawful kerbside place, or before it only if that place is lawful and does not hide the crossing or break zigzag rules. When in doubt, pass the crossing completely and stop clear.

Green Man Crossings (Signal-Controlled Pedestrian Crossings)

Green man crossings are pedestrian crossings controlled by traffic lights / pedestrian signals. Drivers face ordinary traffic signals; pedestrians face the red/green man figures.

Driver rules

1. Obey your signal — red means stop at the line; do not enter the crossing area
2. On amber, stop if you can do so safely (same discipline as other light junctions)
3. On green, proceed only if safe — pedestrians may still be finishing their crossing after their green man ended
4. Never drive through while people are on the striped area in conflict with your movement
5. Do not stop on the striped area while waiting for your light to change or for traffic ahead to move

The “green for me, people still there” scenario

This is a high-yield TD-style stem:

Your light turns green. Two pedestrians are still on the crossing, walking slowly.

Correct action: Wait until they are clear (and it remains safe), then go. Green authorises movement only when the way is clear of conflicting users. Forcing past elderly pedestrians or children is both unlawful in spirit and professionally indefensible.

Turning across a green man crossing

When turning at a junction that includes pedestrian signals:

• Yield to pedestrians who are crossing with priority or who are still legally/physically on the crossing
• Do not squeeze between walkers
• Complete the turn only when your path across the stripes is clear

Never Stop on the Crossing (Striped Area)

Whether zebra or signal-controlled, the striped walking area is for feet, not taxis.

Forbidden “reasons” that still fail

• “Passenger wanted this exact door”
• “Only five seconds for the receipt”
• “Rain; they have shopping bags”
• “Green light but traffic ahead is stuck, so I stored the car on the stripes”
• “Hazard lights were on”

None of these create a right to occupy the crossing. If the exit beyond a signalised crossing/junction is blocked, wait before the stop line — the same clear-exit rule as Section 13.1.

Yellow Box Junctions and Keep-Clear Logic

Yellow box markings (criss-cross yellow lines) protect junctions so cross traffic can flow.

Entry rule

Do not enter the yellow box unless your exit is clear, except in the limited situations the rules allow for waiting to turn right when you are only prevented by oncoming traffic or other right-turning vehicles (as taught for yellow box junctions).

Links to crossings

Yellow boxes often sit with pedestrian routes. Blocking the box:

• Traps cross traffic
• Can force pedestrians into awkward paths around vehicles
• Creates the gridlock Part B condemns even when your light is green

Hazard lights, hired status, or a full boot of luggage do not authorise box occupation.

TD-Style Scenario Teaching (How to Answer Crossing Items)

Transport Department-style questions are short stories. Use a fixed method — the same structured thinking you will use for weather items such as flooded roads → test brakes gently after leaving the water in the later weather chapter. Here the pattern is:

Step 1 — Identify the control

• Zebra stripes?
• Zigzag zone?
• Green man / traffic signals?
• Yellow box?
• Vehicle already stopped ahead?

Step 2 — Identify the vulnerable user state

• Pedestrian on the crossing?
• Pedestrian waiting / about to step?
• Child or elderly person slow to clear?
• Cyclist filtering while you look at the hail?

Step 3 — Apply the non-negotiable action

Worked mini-scenarios

Scenario A — Overtake at zebra
A van stops at a zebra. You cannot see the far side. A passenger says “go around, I’m late.”
Answer pattern: Stay behind; do not overtake; the van may be yielding to hidden pedestrians.

Scenario B — Green man residual walkers
Light green; elderly couple halfway across with a trolley.
Answer pattern: Wait; do not edge or horn them clear.

Scenario C — Pickup on paint
Passenger stands mid-zebra with a suitcase in light rain.
Answer pattern: Do not stop on stripes; stop lawfully beyond/clear; passenger walks a few metres.

Scenario D — Yellow box creep
Green signal; box free; far exit jammed.
Answer pattern: Hold before the box until the exit will be clear when you enter.

Scenario E — Zigzag wait
Driver waits in zigzags with FOR HIRE lit, hoping for mall traffic.
Answer pattern: Wrong place; controlled area is not a stand; move to a lawful hire location.

Taxi Professional Standard at Crossings

Combine law and service:

1. Protect walkers first — precedence and clear paint
2. Protect your passengers second — set them down off the conflict zone so they are not hit when they open doors
3. Protect traffic flow third — clear boxes and junctions so the city keeps moving
4. Explain briefly if needed — “I cannot stop on the crossing; I will stop just ahead where it is safe” is professional communication, not refusal of hire for an unlawful reason

Unlawful set-down points can also interact with stopping restrictions taught in later RUC parking/stopping material and with Part A stand rules: a hail does not legalise a stop on protected markings.

Common Exam Traps

Memory Hooks

• Zebra → precedence on stripes; no pass the yielder
• Zigzag → no casual wait / no overtaking games
• Green man → signals + residual walkers
• Stripes & box → keep clear
• Hail on paint → stop elsewhere lawful
• Scenario method → control + user + clear-space action

Closing Checklist for Section 13.3

1. Zebra: give precedence to pedestrians on the crossing; approach ready to stop.
2. Do not overtake vehicles stopped at crossings.
3. Honour zigzag controls — visibility and no improper waiting/overtaking.
4. Green man / signals: obey lights; wait for people still on the crossing; no stop on stripes.
5. Yellow box: enter only with clear exit (limited right-turn exception only).
6. Taxi pickups: never on the crossing; choose the next lawful kerb.
7. Use TD-style scenario steps: mark the control, name the hazard, pick the clear-and-yield action.

This completes Chapter 13’s junctions and vulnerable-users cluster. Later RUC chapters add detailed signs, lights, markings, and stopping restrictions, then weather, emergencies, and professional driving — all still judged by the same standard: clear conflict space, lawful position, and protection of people outside the cabin.