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OTHERS - PEDESTRIANS

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Print this page OTHERS - PEDESTRIANS

Pedestrian deaths account for a significant proportion of all deaths in road accidents. Many such accidents could be avoided. The following should be noted by all pedestrians:

• If there is a footpath you must use it,
• If there is no footpath you must walk as near as possible to the RIGHT HAND side of the road (facing oncoming traffic). However, if a party consists of a group of 20 or more they must walk as near as possible to the LEFT hand side of the road. A group of this number should arrange, when walking at night, to have the leading member carry a yellow or white light and for the member bringing up the rear to carry a red light.
• Do not walk more than two abreast, and, if the road is narrow or carries heavy traffic, you should walk in single file,
• Light coloured outer clothing and a reflective armband should be worn at night outside urban areas.

CROSSING THE ROAD
• Look for a safe place to cross,
• Stop and wait near the edge of the path. If there is no path stand close to the edge of the road,
• Look right and left and listen for traffic,
• Let any traffic coming in either direction pass and look right and left again,
• When the road is clear, walk briskly straight across,
• Continue to watch for traffic while crossing.

DO NOT CROSS
• At a corner or bend in the road
• Near the brow of a hill
• Near parked vehicles
• Where guardrails are provided along the footpaths.

SAFE CROSSING PLACES
Zebra Crossings
A zebra crossing is marked by yellow flashing beacons. The actual crossing area is marked by black and white "zebra" stripes.

Drivers are required to stop and permit pedestrians to cross at zebra crossings. Approaching zebra crossings, drivers should slow and be prepared to stop. Drivers must yield right of way to a pedestrian on the crossing. They must stop behind the stop line where it is provided and must not encroach on the crossing.

Where both sides of the crossing are marked with zig-zag lines, overtaking is prohibited within the area marked by such lines. (See also parking prohibitions)

Zebra Crossings

Pedestrian Lights
Pedestrian lights comprise a set of traffic lights for drivers and a set of light signals for pedestrians. Usually there is a push button for pedestrians which will initiate a change in the traffic lights to red.

Pedestrians must not cross while the "WAIT" or "RED MAN" light is showing. Pedestrians should cross with care when the CROSS NOW or GREEN LIGHT is showing.

On crossings with a central refuge or island, the GREEN MAN/CROSS NOW light may only allow you to cross as far as the refuge or island where another set of lights will come into play.

Pedestrian Lights

"Pelican" Crossings
This is another type of pedestrian traffic light. At these crossings an amber light will flash for a short period after the red light for drivers goes out. Similarly the "GREEN MAN" light for pedestrians will flash for a short time before changing to the RED MAN light.

Motorists should note that zig-zag lines may also be provided with pedestrian lights and pelican crossings as well as with zebra crossings and that the rules about overtaking within the area of the lines apply as do the parking prohibitions referred to earlier.

Traffic Lights
Check the lights in both directions and when the traffic on the road you wish to cross is governed by a red STOP light cross carefully. Look out for traffic that might be turning onto the road you wish to cross remembering that some traffic lights allow traffic to proceed in some lanes when other lanes are stopped. Be especially careful at junctions with filter lanes.

Crossings controlled by Gardai or School Wardens
You must always obey the Garda or School Warden's instructions.

REMEMBER
• At a pedestrian crossing you do not have the right of way over vehicular traffic until you have actually stepped onto the crossing. You should not step onto the crossing if this would result in a driver having to brake or swerve suddenly.

• You must not cross within the area marked by zig-zag white lines where these are provided on either side of a zebra crossing. If they are not provided you must not cross within 16 metres of the crossing.

• Where there is a central island, the island does not constitute part of the crossing. Each side of the island is a separate crossing.

• Always watch carefully for approaching traffic. Place one foot on the crossing to indicate that you wish to cross. Wait until traffic has stopped before you commence crossing.

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