How does a puffin crossing operate?
2 min read
Asked by: Dave Marshall
Puffin Crossings use traffic lights to stop vehicle traffic, allowing pedestrians to cross. Pedestrians push a button at the side of the road, and wait for a signal to cross – this is from a standing red man to a walking green man. A beeping sound is usually heard when the walking green man is shown.
What happens at a puffin crossing?
A puffin Crossing uses cameras mounted on or close to the lights to detect pedestrians in the waiting area and on the actual road crossing and so the duration at which cars are stationary to allow pedestrians to cross is determined by how many pedestrians need to cross.
How do you use a puffin crossing?
Just watch again stop when the red figure is showing. Press the button. Wait until the green figure shows and the traffic has stopped. And then you can safely cross the road.
What is the sequence of lights at a puffin crossing?
If it was two crossings it would normally be staggered with a set of lights and a button box on the island. Puffin crossings have sensors that determine when the crossing is clear. The signal to change from red, to red/amber, and then to green is automatically triggered at that point.
What follows a green light on a puffin crossing?
After the green signal, traffic lights will turn to steady amber. There’s no flashing amber because of the use of the sensors.
Does a puffin crossing flashing amber?
Puffin. Crossings differ from Pelican crossings, as they do not have a flashing green man/flashing amber signal. The overall crossing time is established each time by on-crossing pedestrian detectors.
Does a puffin crossing have sensors?
Most Puffin crossings have sensors on top of the traffic lights, although some may be buried in the ground in the waiting area. The sensors can spot if you are waiting to cross.
Do crossings have sensors?
These sensors can detect whether any pedestrians are on the crossing and control the colour of the lights accordingly. Once the control button has been pressed, the lights will only change back to green once the crossing is clear.
What’s the difference between a pelican crossing and a puffin crossing?
Puffin crossings are fundamentally the same as Pelican crossings, except they use ‘intelligent’ signals. A Pelican crossing cycle works according to set timings; Puffin crossings use sensors to determine when the crossing is clear. Thus, if one person crosses quickly, traffic will only be stationary briefly.
