I think it's a matter of judgement and depends on the specific layout. Generally if it's an ordinary road with a small pedestrian island I would stop if there was someone on the opposite crossing heading towards and about to cross in front of me. If it was a crossing on a dual carriageway, for example, I would probably see the crossing as effectively two separate zebra crossings.

They are separate crossings. See rule 20 (can't link directly so just scroll down from this)

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/the-high...1-to-35#rule19

The diagram in that rule seems to imply that vehicles on the "clear" half of the crossing can drive over it.

As a pedestrian I can understand this and as a driver wherever possible I wait until the person is safely on the other side before moving off. One of the things that I think is so stupid and careless and draws my ire is women who just push their buggy into the road without looking, especially on side roads. So dangerous

Does it really matter? You come across as somebody who is looking for an argument just for the sake of it.

No, Rule 195 of the Highway Code concludes by stating:-


So if a pedestrian has crossed in front of you and reached the central island then you are free to proceed, you do not have to wait for them to cross the other carriageway.

Almost, she's a cyclist

If I see that happening, I wait, even if the road is clear. Otherwise, I will of course make my own judgement. And as a driver, it's quite irritating to have to stop just after a pedestrian has already crossed with the lights on green, so I don't push the button if the traffic flow is such that I expect to be able to cross without enlisting the aid of the tiny green man.

That's not the scenario I was referring to.

I wish road use would be better taught in schools for both pedestrians and future drivers. (In fact, digressing, I wish there were whole modules on how to behave with courtesy so you don't annoy other people - don't walk slowly in train stations, don't spread across the whole pavement if you're in a group, don't stop dead randomly in the middle of a busy area etc).

I acted negligently to cars when I hadn't yet learned to drive - walking around them when they were trying to reverse on ice. I didn't know any better. I got my comeuppance the other week when a pedestrian walked out in front of my as I was going around a bend on an icy hill. The hill start on ice did not go well. I get annoyed at pedestrians who walk across a right turn, because the opportunity to turn is limited for drivers, even more so when pedestrians cross constantly.

Drivers break the rules, yes, and they shouldn't. But as far as I am aware, pedestrians are only taught things that keep them safe and give them priority, not things that they should know to help them exercise courtesy towards drivers? We could all do with using more consideration for people moving around us.

Kinda agree with this. I always look to make the car drivers life as easy as possible when I'm a pedestrian. There is a lot to think about when driving in busy urban areas and me acting like a dick is the last thing a driver needs when negotiating road with speed bumps, traffic lights, bus-stops, blind entrances/exits, school children & mini roundabouts!
There is a phrase which is "Might is right" that people sometimes apply to road use. It basically means the bigger the vehicle to more right it should have on the road, trucks at the top of the tree, pedestrians at the bottom
Whilst I don't agree fully with this there are certain things that are undeniable. A pedestrian takes inches to stop moving whereas a bike, car, van, truck take considerably longer. Wherever I happen to be in the tree at that moment I always give the respect deserved to the moving object that will take longer to stop than me, or will impose greater damage to me.
For example as a pedestrian I won't just walk out on to a Zebra crossing until eye contact is made with the oncoming driver & I have observed they are slowing down. As a cyclist I won't ride up the left hand side of vehicles when approaching a turning. As a driver I won't continue up the right hand side of a bus or articulated lorry at a small-medium sized roundabout. Doing any of these things puts me at risk, yet everyday I see people doing exactly the opposite of this.

But you were replying to Cessna, how do you know that wasn't the scenario they were referring to?

Why are people discussing lights? The OP is talking about zebra crossings, not pelican crossings.

Sigh .... I think some people are just spoiling for an argument.

OK .... As I understand it zebra crossing with a central island are two separate crossings. Meaning you're not expected to stop if there is a pedestrian on the crossing on the other side of the road.

What I said is that I use some judgement, some discretion, to stop if the person on the other crossing is heading in the direction of the crossing on my side of the road. Driving is not just about following the rules to the letter.

Similarly if someone is walking towards the crossing, hasn't quite got there yet, but everything looks as though that is their intention, I again use my judgement as to whether to slow down and stop.

*Yawn* i was waiting for the "blame the pedestrians" comment. Congrats that it's you.

And unlike yourself is one of the most lucid, knowledgeable, intelligent & helpful posters on here, across numerous boards.

I know who I'd ban from posting...

One of the most (knowingly) ironic posts I have come across.

Although it was yourself who lead me to discover that there is no right of entry to an ASL box for a cyclists unless the first line is broken.

Do I get a prize? A cupcake maybe? I'm a pedestrian who does what I described on a regular basis. Almost been run over a few times too!

If some nut job came barrelling at me and blowing their horn as I crossed at a pedestrian crossing I would find it very satisfying to pull a .600 nitro express magnum revolver from my pocket and fire it directly through their windscreen right between their eyes.

But as I'm not allowed to do that kind of thing in the street I'd give 'em the finger and proceed on my merry way

My town must be full of courteous drivers. There is a zebra crossing near me and cars are always stopping there. Most pedestrians acknowledge the fact and give a wave of thanks, too.

I can only think of 2 zebra crossings in the whole town though, so maybe they're a bit of a novelty. All the others are pelicans.

Exactly. A driver only has to stop once a pedestrian is on the crossing, if they're waiting by the side of the road, there is no legal reason to stop, it's just a courtesy. If you're trying to cross a busy road you could be there all day unless you step onto the crossing. Once someone is crossing, drivers must wait for the crossing to be clear before setting off

And darting across the road appearing from nowhere with the driver almost right on the crossing is not a good idea.

Pedestrian crossings are not just ruled by the Highway Code, but are also subject to certain statutory requirements for drivers approaching pedestrian crossings. Failure to comply with the statute is a criminal offence. These include:
ß Drivers must give way when someone has moved onto a zebra crossing. [Reg. 25, Zebra, Pelican and Puffin Pedestrian Crossings Regulations and General Directions 1997 (SI 1997/2400)]
ß Drivers must stop when the red light shows on a Pelican crossing and must give way to pedestrians on the crossing if the amber light is flashing. [Regs. 23 and 26]

The fact that the pedestrian is the most vulnerable road user has made it necessary for the law to protect the pedestrian foremost. If you said to a judge that you mowed down the pedestrian because he only entered the pedestrian crossing with his toe when you were in the pricess of going through that crossing would actually get you in more trouble and not be a defence. As there also remains a duty if care on the driver and a requirement that the driver be aware of his or her surroundings.

So legally if the pedestrian had not entered the crossing but was at the side of the road or only entered the crossing when you did it would be a civil suit most likely but also negligent driving.

If you mowed down the poor sod who was already on the crossing it would be a crime.

For that poster earlier who stated that you can move your vehicle on when someone is still on the crossing , they are wrong. The law does not have to state that exactly that to be applicable as the law will expressly state any exceptions. That is that if it says you must stop your car if anyone is on a pedestrian crossing it means exactly that. If it mean otherwise it would state that you could move the car over that crossing whilst a pedestrian was in it as long as said pedestrian had moved safely away from your car but that is not what it says.

Moving your car over a zebra crossing whilst someone is still on it is a crime in accordance to Statue and this is specifically why the law required the determination that an island can create two super ate crossings because otherwise the cars on the other side would be legally bound to wait.

Except it doesn't say that.
What did you make of the link in #22 ?

When I cross a zebra crossing , I always wait until cars stop.

I have been on zebra crosses were driver don't notice You and still drive.

The worst one are the small zebra crossing out side hospital,,


Few poters have been hit by cars , out side my work place

Here we go again!

You must give way to pedestrians who are crossing. There's nothing in law, or anywhere else for that matter, that says you have to wait for the crossing to be completely clear before moving off.

The Highway Code, of course, only deals with perfect situations. If I'm approaching a pedestrian crossing and intending to stop, I will do so in good time, whether pedestrians are already on the crossing or waiting on the kerb waiting to cross. Once I have stopped they may cross.

I would treat the situation with common-sense, as I would any other road user encounter. If the pedestrian(s) is/are crossing the road and they are well clear of my vehicle then I will proceed. I'm perfectly entitled to do this. I have to give way to pedestrians on the crossing and this I have clearly done. If someone drops something on the road surface while crossing I will expect them to return to pick it up, in which case I wouldn't dream of moving off until they had done so. If I'd seen them drop something and they hadn't realised they had done so I would probably give them a warning "Toot" on my horn; not a blast, just a small toot, just to attract their attention. It won't say that in the Highway Code!

It's not rocket science, it's common sense!