01/12/2026
This, for the information of non-Brits, is a pelican crossing. The crossing's name is a portmanteau of "Pedestrian light controlled crossing" because people wishing to cross here can press a button attached to the crossing that will (eventually) cause the traffic lights to turn to a red signal. The light signal is about the height of the average banana plant.
This is an intelligent crossing. There are folks in the vicinity who argue it's not a pelican but in fact a puffin. Puffins were introduced after pelicans.
Anyway, none of this relates specifically to my reason for posting.
This intelligent crossing will show a green signal continuously - unless a pedestrian pressed the button to indicate they wish to cross the road here.
Remember - this is an intelligent crossing.
Once the button has been pressed the technology in the crossing does two things:
1. It counts down from 120 seconds to zero.
2. It scans the road for traffic.
One of two things will then happen.
1. The countdown will reach zero.
2. There will be a gap in the traffic.
When either of the two events occurs the lights will change to red, stopping the traffic.
The reality of the situation is that there are almost always gaps in the traffic within two minutes of pressing the button. At this point most people will elect to cross the road.
My experience of the crossing's technology is that it takes several seconds for it to register that the road is clear of traffic - far longer than the time it takes the human brain to determine that it is safe to cross.
What this means is that the crossing's signal changes to red ONLY once pedestrians have crossed to the other side.
This means, in effect, cars only stop at the lights when no one is waiting to cross.
There MUST be a better way.
(No seabirds were harmed in the making of this post).
