405:, where they are required at all marked pedestrian crossings. Traffic regulations require a controlling authority to erect on each pole, indicating the presence and position of a pedestrian crossing, either an internally illuminated amber globe not less than 300 mm (12") in diameter, which has a lamp that provides 40 to 60 flashes per minute, or a 400 mm (16") diameter fluorescent orange disk. The pole must be erected within 2 metres (6') of each end of a crossing. The poles must be not less than 75 mm (3") in diameter, and not less than 2 metres (6') in height, and must be clearly painted with alternate parallel bands of black and white, each having a width of approximately 300 mm (12"). Disks are a relatively new addition as a replacement for illuminated globes, having only become prominent since the 1990s.
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Belisha beacons provide additional visibility to zebra crossings for motorists, primarily at night. The UK flash rate is 750 ms on, 750 ms off. Some crossings are set so that each beacon flashes alternately to the other side, but they often fall out of synchronization over time. Beacons with an outer
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rule 195 states that "you should give way to pedestrians waiting to cross" and "you MUST give way when a pedestrian has moved onto a crossing". The word "MUST" reflects a legal requirement, the relevant legislation being cited as "ZPPPCRGD reg 25". The other statement is not a legal requirement, but
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to trial the implementation of zebra crossings without
Belisha beacons, instead using fixed blue mandatory signs, such as are used in Continental Europe. These crossings will be cheaper and quicker to implement, as they do not require an electrical connection. The signs were adopted in March 2024,
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Some of the crossings have plastic poles that are translucent, and lit internally. This is immediately apparent in dull weather and at night. The clearly illuminated white sections announce the presence of the poles carrying the yellow globes, increasing the visibility of the crossings to all road
425:, Belisha beacons were used from 1957 to 1962 to indicate that pedestrians had the right of way on a particular crossing. In 1962, a law was passed that extended this to all zebra crossings, and the beacons were removed. However, some still exist in
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briefly had a small number of
Belisha beacon marked crossings in the late 1960s and early 1970s, but the majority of Australian crossings are zebra crossings marked by large yellow circular signs bearing a walking legs symbol.
322:, illuminated, reflective, or otherwise designed for high visibility at pedestrian crossings, to which the name Belisha is occasionally erroneously applied. These high-visibility crossing markers are often placed on
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Similar to the United
Kingdom, two Belisha beacons are required, each to be put at each end of the zebra crossing. When there is a pedestrian refuge of central reservation, additional Belisha beacons may be added.
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301:, with pedestrian-controlled traffic signals; a waiting pedestrian can stop vehicular traffic by pressing a button, and waiting for the pedestrian signal of a red and green man to change to green.
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users. These illuminated white sections can, however, obscure the presence of a pedestrian waiting to cross, as a driver cannot see the dark shape behind the brighter light coming from the pole.
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who, in 1934, added beacons to pedestrian crossings, marked by large metal studs in the road surface. These crossings were later painted in black and white stripes, and thus are known as
377:, Belisha beacons are usually accompanied by much higher visibility dual flashing amber traffic lights on either side. Some zebra crossings have only these rather than Belisha beacons.
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or central reservation in the road, the traffic authority can opt whether to place one or more beacons centrally. An exception is crossings over cycle paths, which do not need beacons.
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Belisha beacons inspired a popular card game called 'Belisha'. It was aimed to teach road safety to children. It featured pictures of road scenes and a few notable places, like
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decided to erect ‘Belisha beacons’ at kerbside, alongside pedestrian crossings. The first
Belisha beacons were erected in the London authorities areas and, following the
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Since the introduction of new regulations in 1997, the number of zebra crossings and
Belisha beacons has fallen in the northern counties of England, being replaced by
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in the middle of the road, in addition to or instead of at the roadside. Many of these new crossings are signposted that pedestrians must give way to traffic.
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229:, were rolled out nationally in 1935. In December 1941, a study was made into the cost effectiveness of melting down the 64,000 Belisha beacon posts to make
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the advice in the
Highway Code is admissible as evidence of what constitutes an acceptable standard of driving, for example for the offence of
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353:" where pedestrians have priority. The yellow globe on the beacon may be illuminated by a flashing light or by a constant light.
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233:, a plan which threatened to "deprive the right hon. Member for Devonport (Mr. Hore-Belisha) of his last hope of immortality."
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To be legally compliant in the UK, every zebra crossing must be equipped with two
Belisha beacons. In cases where there is a
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Belisha beacons ranged all over
Liberian zebra crossings from 1960 to 2010, and some were still in use from 2010 to 2013.
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178:) is a yellow-coloured globe lamp atop a tall black and white striped pole, marking pedestrian crossings of roads in the
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produced a short film which showed the correct way to use a pedestrian crossing (without the stripes at this time).
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A Belisha beacon atop its striped pole. This example also features a spot lamp to illuminate the crossing at night.
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655:"The Zebra, Pelican and Puffin Pedestrian Crossings Regulations and General Directions 1997: Section 25"
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829:"Cap. 374G Road Traffic (Traffic Control) Regulations Schedule 4: Zebra Crossing and Light Signal Crossing"
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Belisha beacons were uncommon, but the
Highway Code allowed for using them up until the early 1960s.
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lights, preferred for their brightness and low electricity consumption, are replacing traditional
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arcade game called ‘Belisha
Beacons’ in which contestants would throw balls at traffic signs.
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766:"The Zebra, Pelican and Puffin Pedestrian Crossings Regulations and General Directions 1997"
701:"Munitions Production (Belisha Beacons) – Tuesday 2 December 1941 – Hansard – UK Parliament"
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214:. Legally, pedestrians have priority (over vehicles in the carriageway) on such crossings.
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The new pedestrian crossing sign in Ireland, featuring a fluorescent yellow background
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907:"ONE.MOTORING - Pedestrian Crossing Signs Attached to Existing Flashing Beacons"
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797:"The Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions 2016: Schedule 14"
727:"Public Information Films | 1945 to 1951 | Film index | Pedestrian Crossing"
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877:"3 locations in Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown have been chosen for this pilot"
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In Singapore, all zebra crossings are marked by Belisha beacons.
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Outside of the UK, Belisha beacons are perhaps most prominent in
318:, there has been a proliferation of various kinds of beacons and
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French street light with two amber flashing lights on its sides
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A zebra crossing outfitted with Belisha beacons in Hong Kong
637:"The Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions 2016"
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Example of Belisha beacons at a zebra crossing in Singapore
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of Hong Kong for pedestrian crossings to be considered a "
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The Motoring Age: The Automobile and Britain 1896-1939
847:"Active Travel Pilot Scheme for New Zebra Crossings"
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62:. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.
679:"Zebra crossing near Abbey Road Studios – 1396390"
575:diagram for a Belisha beacon device in New Zealand
393:though beacons are still permitted to be used.
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122:Learn how and when to remove this message
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932:"Belisha: the card game | Roads.org.uk"
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536:LED Belisha beacon and illuminated post
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999:. Profile Books Limited. p. 206.
755:British Standard BS 8442-2015, para 12
612:driving without due care and attention
345:, Belisha beacons are required by the
887:from the original on 22 November 2022
857:from the original on 22 November 2022
481:. The gameplay was based on the game
390:Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council
7:
974:from the original on 3 February 2024
942:from the original on 23 January 2024
737:from the original on 11 October 2018
707:from the original on 11 October 2021
60:adding citations to reliable sources
429:, in addition to the media area in
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993:Thorold, Peter (7 October 2004).
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386:Limerick City and County Council
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202:. The beacons were named after
47:needs additional citations for
1027:Pedestrian crossing components
524:LED halo zebra crossing beacon
512:High Visibility Belisha Beacon
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1037:Walking in the United Kingdom
238:Central Office of Information
851:National Transport Authority
382:National Transport Authority
962:"Belisha card game booklet"
809:, SI 1998/901 (sch. 14)
667:, SI 1997/2400 (s. 25)
643:. Department for Transport.
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384:began a pilot scheme with
305:Outside the United Kingdom
223:The Ministry of Transport
271:ring of flashing yellow
833:www.elegislation.gov.hk
911:www.onemotoring.com.sg
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807:The National Archives
776:The National Archives
665:The National Archives
380:In October 2022, the
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227:Road Traffic Act 1934
208:Minister of Transport
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883:. 22 November 2022.
488:It also inspired an
347:Transport Department
56:improve this article
938:. 7 February 2023.
853:. 24 October 2022.
573:NZ Transport Agency
204:Leslie Hore-Belisha
1032:1934 introductions
818:, paragraph 25(3).
802:legislation.gov.uk
771:legislation.gov.uk
681:. Historic England
660:legislation.gov.uk
641:legislation.gov.uk
605:In Great Britain,
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277:incandescent bulbs
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254:Belisha beacon at
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1006:978-1-86197-383-2
731:National Archives
479:Robin Hood's Well
295:pelican crossings
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206:(1893–1957), the
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976:. Retrieved
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54:Please help
49:verification
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891:22 November
861:22 November
813:13 February
782:13 February
427:Vlaardingen
423:Netherlands
417:Netherlands
403:New Zealand
397:New Zealand
196:New Zealand
1021:Categories
978:23 January
946:23 January
916:8 February
622:References
112:March 2014
82:newspapers
493:Blackpool
437:Singapore
431:Hilversum
343:Hong Kong
337:Hong Kong
316:Australia
310:Australia
256:Kanhangad
231:munitions
200:Singapore
188:Hong Kong
969:Archived
940:Archived
885:Archived
855:Archived
735:Archived
705:Archived
490:anarchic
330:Brisbane
320:bollards
881:Twitter
741:5 March
685:5 March
461:Liberia
421:In the
375:Ireland
361:Ireland
218:History
184:Ireland
96:scholar
1003:
711:18 May
499:Images
451:France
409:Poland
260:Kerala
98:
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69:
972:(PDF)
965:(PDF)
593:Notes
483:Rummy
469:Games
455:Spain
264:India
258:, in
192:Malta
103:JSTOR
89:books
1001:ISBN
980:2024
948:2024
918:2019
893:2022
863:2022
815:2023
784:2023
743:2017
713:2020
687:2017
477:and
453:and
388:and
198:and
75:news
449:In
373:In
341:In
314:In
297:or
273:LED
58:by
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171:ə
168:ʃ
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146:(
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100:·
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