now the law
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y Les Oldridge, AMIRTE, MIMI
Jedestrian crossings
-IE Zebra Pedestrian Crossing regulations 71 came into effect on September 29 71, and impose further restrictions on hi' silar traffic. A new type of road r Icing — illustrated here — has been roduced: one effect is to ban stationary hides on both sides of the zebra crossing tead of only on the approach side as was -merly the case. Thus drivers should get earlier view of the jay-walker darting out
m behind a stationary vehicle into the th of approach traffic. Inconvenience to
drivers of lorries wanting to unload at Dps near pedestrian crossings is bound to
Caused and one can only hope that a luction in accidents will justify the new ;trictions.
The area of carriageway between the Lrt of the zigzag lines and the crossing ;.,11, as shown in the diagrams, constitutes 'zebra-controlled area". Regulation 12 of
new law stipulates that, with minor eptions, the driver of a vehicle must not use a vehicle to stop in this controlled ;a. A special exemption to this part of the :gulations is made for a pedal cycle, even t is motor assisted.
The other exemptions to the requirement t to stop in the zebra controlled area are follows: A vehicle which has stopped to allow iestrians to cross or which has halted :ause it is prohibited from overtaking a licle which has stopped to allow lestrians to cross (more about this later); A vehicle which is prevented from )ceeding by circumstances beyond the ver's control or which has stopped in ler to avoid an accident; and A vehicle which has stopped for so long may be necessary to be used for fire gade, ambulance or police purposes, or in anection with any building operation,, nolition or excavation, the removal of any obstruction to traffic, the maintenance, improvement or reconstruction of that length of road, or the laying, erection, alteration, repair or cleaning in or near to that length of road, of any traffic sign or sewer or any main, pipe or apparatus for the supply of gas, water or electricity, or any telegraph or telephone wires, cables, posts or supports if it cannot be used for such purposes without stopping in the controlled area; (d) A vehicle stopped in order to make a left or right turn; (e) A stage or express carriage not on an excursion or tour which stops in the controlled area after having passed the zebra crossing itself for the purpose of enabling passengers to board or alight from the vehicle. The new Regulations still require the drivers of vehicles to give precedence to pedestrians on zebra crossings but a "give-way line" is now included in the road markings and this line is intended to indicate to drivers the position at or before which their vehicle should stop when the zebra crossing is in use by a pedestrian.
New provision
An important new provision is introduced in respect of overtaking at zebra crossing. Regulation 10 makes it an offence for the driver of a vehicle approaching the limits of an uncontrolled zebra crossing to pass ahead of the foremost part of another moving vehicle travelling in the same direction or to pass ahead of the foremost part of a stationary vehicle waiting at the crossing to allow pedestrians to cross. In other words, it is an offence to overtake either a Stationary or moving vehicle in the approach controlled area of a pedestrian crossing. The rule concerning the overtaking of stationary vehicles applies to the overtaking of any type of vehicle, not necessarily a mechanically propelled one, so it is an offence to overtake a stationary horse and cart or even a pedal cycle which is waiting for a pedestrian to cross.
One can foresee difficulties arising on dual-carriageways over this new law. A driver waiting in the offside lane for a pedestrian to cross over from his right to left must not overtake another stationary vehicle on his nearside even after the pedestrian has passed out of his way leaving that portion of the crossing immediately in front of him completely clear. This overtaking ban applies only on the approach side of the crossing; it is permissible to overtake in the controlled area after having crossed over the zebra crossing itself.
In one-way streets with a street refuge or central reservation the parts of the crossing on each side of the refuge or reservation are treated as two separate crossings. In this case the ban on overtaking does not apply to overtaking a vehicle which has stopped to allow pedestrians to cross on the crossing on the other side of the refuge or reservation from that on which the overtaking vehicle is travelling. The variation does not permit the overtaking of a moving vehicle.