A zebra crossing is a pedestrian crossing marked by broad black and white stripes across the road, with a flashing orange globe on a striped pole at each side. Drivers must give way once a pedestrian has stepped onto it.
The Belisha beacon
The orange globes are Belisha beacons, named after Leslie Hore-Belisha, the Minister of Transport who introduced them in 1934 — before the stripes existed, when crossings were marked only by metal studs and were widely ignored.
The stripes were added in a 1949 trial and rolled out from 1951 precisely because the crossings needed to be visible from a distance. The zebra name came from the trial and stuck.
The rules
- Drivers must stop once a pedestrian has moved onto the crossing.
- Since the 2022 Highway Code revision, drivers should also give way to pedestrians waiting to cross, which is a significant change and not yet universally observed.
- No stopping or overtaking in the zig-zag markings on the approach.
- Pedestrians should not step out suddenly, and have no absolute right of way until they are on it.
Unlike a signalised crossing, there is no light for the driver — the judgement is theirs, which is why the zig-zags and beacons exist.
The animal crossings
Britain names all its crossing types after animals, and each is a distinct official design:
- Zebra — stripes and beacons, no lights. Pedestrian priority once on it.
- Pelican — from pedestrian light controlled. Push-button signals with a flashing amber phase for drivers, meaning give way if the crossing is clear. Being phased out.
- Puffin — pedestrian user-friendly intelligent. Sensors detect whether anyone is still crossing and hold the red accordingly. The modern standard.
- Toucan — because “two can” cross: pedestrians and cyclists together.
- Pegasus — for horse riders, with a second, higher push button at rider height.
- Tiger — yellow and black stripes, a zebra crossing with a cycle track through it.
The naming is entirely deliberate and has been going on since the 1960s, which says something cheerful about British transport administration.
Abbey Road
The most famous zebra crossing in the world is on Abbey Road in St John’s Wood, north London, photographed for the cover of the Beatles’ 1969 album on a August morning in about ten minutes.
It is a working crossing on a busy road, and it now attracts a continuous stream of visitors attempting to recreate the photograph while traffic waits. Residents have mixed feelings, and there is a live webcam.
The crossing was given Grade II listed status in 2010 — the first road marking in Britain ever listed — on the grounds of its cultural significance. It has been repainted and, on one occasion, moved a few metres during roadworks, which caused a small international incident.