31 October: Zebra Crossings

Zebra Crossings were introduced in the UK in 1951. Here are 10 things you might not know about zebra crossings:

1. Before 1951, pedestrian crossings were marked by metal studs in the road, but these weren't easy for drivers to see before it was too late to stop.
2. One solution for this remains in use today - the Belisha beacon, the amber orb on top of a black and white striped pole was placed on either side of crossings in the 1930s. The first Belisha Beacon was erected in Wigan on the corner of Mesnes Street, and became operational on 4 July 1935. It was named after Leslie Hore-Belisha, the Minister of Transport who added beacons to pedestrian crossings. A Belisha beacon increases visibility, especially at night as the light inside the orb flashes, usually one second on and one second off.
3. The Ministry of Transport considered a number of colour combinations such as blue and Yellow or red and white, but eventually concluded that black and white was the most visible.
4. The name "zebra crossing" was coined when an MP called James Callaghan (who later became Prime Minister) visited the Transport Research Laboratory and was shown the proposed black and white design. He commented that it looked like a zebra and the name stuck.
5. The stripes on a zebra crossing are typically 40 to 60 centimetres (16 inches to 2 feet) wide.
6. At certain times of day zebra crossings near schools may also have a school crossing patrol, commonly known as a "lollipop lady" or "lollipop man" because of the round stop signs on the end of a pole that they use to stop traffic.
7. In the UK, drivers must by law give way to pedestrians on zebra crossings. If they fail to do so, they get a fine of £100 and three licence penalty points, unless there is a lollipop person present. Then they can be fined £1,000 and may be disqualified from driving. In some other countries, like Belgium, the fine for failing to stop is even higher at the equivalent of £2,000.
8. In 2013 a zebra crossing was used for a political protest in Helsinki. The crossing outside the Russian Embassy in the city was re-painted in Rainbow colours to protest about the Russian government's policy towards lesbian and gay people.
9. Zebra crossings were the first, but as different types of crossing have been introduced the animal theme has been maintained. As well as zebras there are also Pelican, Puffin, Toucan, Pegasus and Tiger crossings.
10. The most famous zebra crossing in the world is no doubt the one in Abbey Road, West London (which is nowhere near the Abbey Road DLR station in East London which had so many tourists showing up there looking for the crossing that they put up a sign explaining to them that they were in the wrong place and telling them, with the use of numerous puns on Beatle songs, how to get to the right place, ending with a reminder that they would need a "Ticket to Ride".) The crossing has been incorporated into the logo of Abbey Road studios. English Heritage has given it Grade II Listed Building status.