Crossing where there is an island on the road
An Island On The Road

Other than the locations mentioned in Step 1, it is safer to cross a road using islands. Use the Road Crossing Code to cross to the island. Stop there and use the Code again to cross the second part of the road.

Always make sure that there will be sufficient space on the island for you to wait safely and not too close to the traffic. If the island is crowded with people waiting to cross, wait until it is free before crossing.

Use only kerbed islands. Do not wait in areas of roadway hatched with white lines or on the roadway adjacent to an island. Do not use islands or central reservations that have guard rails unless there are gaps provided for use by pedestrians.

Crossing a bus lane
Crossing Bus Lane

Vehicles in bus lanes may be going faster than traffic in other lanes, and some bus lanes may be in the opposite direction to normal traffic. Do not wait on the white line between the bus lane and the other lane, but cross the road in one go.

 

 

Bus Lane Warning
Sign warning pedestrians of a bus lane with advice to look left. The sign may vary to give the advice 'LOOK RIGHT'.
 

Crossing tram tracks

Trams cannot swerve to avoid you if, for example, you fall. Look out for other vehicles as some traffic lanes are used by both trams and other vehicles. If using a tram stop island or a strip dividing the tram line from the rest of the road, look out for trams and other vehicles coming from both directions. Do not cross immediately behind or in front of a tram.

Crossing light rail tracks

Light rail vehicles also cannot swerve to avoid you. When crossing light rail tracks, use proper crossing facilities such as footbridges or ʻGreen manʼ crossings. Where no proper crossing facilities are available nearby, you should follow the Road Crossing Code and exercise extra care.

Crossing a one-way road

Check which way the traffic is going. On one-way roads, there may be more than one lane of traffic going in the same direction. Do not cross until it is safe to cross all the lanes of traffic. Continue to look all around while crossing as there may be a vehicle reversing or travelling the wrong way.

Crossing a busy road

Unless there is a pedestrian crossing, do not cross if the traffic flow is heavy without much variation and the gaps in the traffic are too few or too short to cross safely. If the traffic flow varies, be patient and wait for a safe gap in the traffic. Do not cross between stopped vehicles or those moving slowly in a queue.

Crossing a road with fast traffic

Use the Road Crossing Code but cross only if there is no traffic approaching.

Crossing a road at night

At night, it is more difficult for drivers to see you and for you to judge speeds of coming traffic. Try to cross near a street light so that drivers will be able to see you more easily.

Crossing a road during poor weather

Take extra care in poor weather conditions, particularly during heavy rain or in mist or fog. It is more difficult for drivers to see you and for you to see moving vehicles. If the road is slippery, cross only if there is no traffic approaching. Allow yourself more time to cross carefully.

Guard rails

Guard Rails 
Guard rails and pedestrian barriers are often provided at places where stepping onto or crossing the road would be difficult or dangerous. The traffic may be particularly busy or there may be a hidden hazard. Guard rails are also provided to guide you to a nearby crossing place.


You must not climb over or through guard rails, fences, barriers, or central reservation on the road.

Guard Rails Illustration
Do not walk on the road side of guard rails. Do not cross a road where there are guard rails or a barrier on any island you may need to use or on the other side of the road - unless there are gaps provided for pedestrians to cross the road. Check if there is also a gap in the guard rails on the other side of the road before crossing.

Not all gaps in guard rails are there to provide a crossing place for pedestrians. Before crossing the road using a gap, or at the end of length of guard rail, check that it is a safe place to cross the road. You should always follow Step 1 of the Road Crossing Code before crossing the road.