Signal-controlled crossings are used on roads which have:
- high traffic volumes
- traffic approach speeds
- high pedestrian flows
Pelican crossings (pedestrian light-controlled crossings)
Pelican crossings are controlled by pedestrians. They can press the button on the 'wait' box when ready to cross.
Sometimes they have a bleeper to help blind or partially sighted people know when it's safe to cross.
A green man lights up to stop all traffic and allow pedestrians to cross. The green man will flash to alert pedestrians not to start crossing. A red man lights up alerting pedestrians not to cross.
Puffin and toucan crossings (pedestrian user-friendly intelligent crossings)
Puffin crossings look similar to pelican crossings. They have green and red man signals above the wait box, not on the other side of the road. There is no flashing green man.
Puffin crossings have special sensors that detect a pedestrian waiting and make sure traffic is stopped until all pedestrians have crossed.
On toucan crossings, cyclists are permitted to ride across the road. These are usually placed where cycle routes cross busy roads. Cyclists do not have to dismount to cross at toucan crossings.