Pedestrians And Zig-Zag Lines.

rccatnap | 15:07 Sat 30th Oct 2021 | Law

38 Answers

I know that drivers must not overtake or park in the vicinity of a pedestrian crossing where there are zig-zag lines, but are pedestrians permitted to cross the road over them, or must they only use the actual crossing provided?

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THECORBYLOON

Best Answer

The Highway Code states, "always cross between the studs or over the zebra markings. Do not cross at the side of the crossing or on the zig-zag lines, as it can be dangerous." As it states, "Do not" as opposed to, "You must not", crossing over the zig-zag lines is not unlawful.

15:14 Sat 30th Oct 2021

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Hopkirk

I've been to Zurich in Switzerland a couple of times.

Virtually everyone crosses at official crossing points. They wait until the green Man shows then cross.

Since everyone else does this I overcame my temptation to cross elsewhere and did the same. I then quickly discovered that the authorities have got the timings right, so it all works well.

I also noticed that the cyclists we're finding the cycle lanes easy to use, as they weren't blocked by vans and selfish car drivers.

Arksided

As a pedestrian with headphones on I'm always wary of drivers, you can't be sure what muppet is driving. At crossing Most not all do stop at Zebra's etc... but just to be sure I wait.

Once crossing at a pelican crossing my brother was very young at the time lights were red safe to cross green man flashing ;-) we set off but he dropped something I had to drag him off the road some female muppet fiddling with something in a 'People carrier' not paying attention.

She stopped in time (Just) and mouthed sorry I said nothing nor mouthed anything went to pick up said object, I think my constant stare at her was enough to make sure she didn't do it again.

rccatnap

Question Author

Thank you all, you have confirmed the conclusion(s) I came to.
There seems to be a 'get out' when saying 'do not' or 'must not' rather than 'should not'. I would rather it said 'must not'. Leaving it to common sense doesn't always appear to work. Nothing new there then!

Peter Pedant

no that is jay walking ( walking in forbidden zones) and we dont have this in the kingdom of the Free

Pedestrians do have duties ( of course ) - and when a leddy walked out in front of a bus, making it impossible for the bus driver to work, Judge Russell awarded damages on her House Insurance - clearly she had to have some and it had to specify ....

Govt booklets are slowly being revised into the airline format - - must means there is a law or compulsion and should is best practise - - ie may be negligent, see above

er that is just about it,isnt it

Peter Pedant

should may be negligent if not - - and can be rebutted by reasons
( clear to me)

hellywelly4

My late husband was really fanatical about not crossing on the zig zags as he said it wasn’t allowed. I wonder if the rules changed some time after the zig zags were ‘invented’ - were they different originally.?

Peter Pedant

someone must collect old higway codes....

parking eg they only have to put it as you enter the area and dont now have to advertise the times near the lines they have painted
( and it varies between cities)

Atheist

Arksided 17:37:
You think that a pedestrian wearing headphones is a sensible chap? some girls were killed by a train while walking across a level crossing with headphones on. Some cyclists wear them and they should know better. Some idiots drive round in cars with blacked-out windows and deafening music blaring. Not sensible.

Arksided

I don't claim it to be sensible but are wary of my surroundings always, that was the point I was trying to make I've being wearing them whilst on foot for over thirty years. The new menace for pedestrians and drivers alike are the zombie nation paying too much attention to their phones.

Hopkirk

I'm old enough to remember when zig zag lines were first painted by zebra crossings, and I'm sure we were told out the time that it was against the law to cross on the zig zags.

Mind you, that might have been more lies told to children.

Arksided

I learnt a great deal from Darth Vader when I was a kid ;-)

Hopkirk

I was taught road safety by Tufty the squirrel.

Arksided

Makes sense.

THECORBYLOON

The Highway Code states the following regarding the zig-zag lines.

"Rule 191

You MUST NOT park on a crossing or in the area covered by the zig-zag lines. You MUST NOT overtake the moving vehicle nearest the crossing or the vehicle nearest the crossing which has stopped to give way to pedestrians.

Laws ZPPPCRGD regs 18, 20 & 24, RTRA sect 25(5) & TSRGD regs 10, 27 & 28:

The lines were added to zebra crossings in 1971 and as far as I'm aware, there have never been Regs prohibiting folk from crossing in the zig-zag area.

Hopkirk