Road safety

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ROAD SAFETY

8th Newham (Beckton) Scout Group

Start!

1 - Draw or take photos of 10 different traffic signs

2 - Green Cross Code

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3 - Tell a leader why it’s important to have different types of pedestrian crossing.

4 - Show that you know how to behave safely as a car passenger.

Draw or take photos of 10 different traffic signs

Road Sings

Different shapes have different meanings There are hundreds of different road signs, each with their own meaning. However, most fall into one of three categories based on their shape. The general rule is:

Rectangular road signs: Rectangular signs inform. Blue rectangular signs give information on motorways, green signs direct you on primary roads, while white signs give directions on minor roads. Rectangular signs can also indicate bus lanes and congestion charge zones.

Triangular road signs: Triangular signs warn. Road signs in the shape of an equilateral triangle are designed to warn you about the road layout or any hazards that lie ahead, such as sharp bends. They almost always have a red border.

Circular road signs: Circular signs give orders - they must be followed to stay within the law. Circles with a red border tell you what you must not do (e.g. take a U-turn). Blue circles usually give a positive instruction, such as ‘turn left ahead’.

Rectangles: Informations Sings

Blue rectangles are used for information signs except on motorways where blue is used for direction signs

Green rectangles are used for direction signs on primary routes

White rectangles are used for direction signs on non-primary routes, or for plates used in combination with warning and regulatory signs.

Brown rectangles are used for Tourist destinations are shown on signs with brown backgrounds

Rectangles: Information Sings

Trianglar sing: Warning signs

Remember: Road signs in the shape of an equilateral triangle are designed to warn you about the road layout or any hazards that lie ahead, such as sharp bends. They almost always have a red border.

Trianglar sing: Warning signs

Regulatory / Order signs

(other than those for low bridges, railway and tramway level crossings, bus and pedal cycle facilities and road works)Most regulatory signs are circular. A RED RING or RED CIRCLE indicates a prohibition. A BLUE CIRCLE generally gives a positive (mandatory) instruction or indicates a route for use only by particular classes of vehicle .

Regulatory / Order signs

Two notable exceptions are:

The "STOP" sign and road markings: you must stop before crossing the transverse line on the road and ensure the way is clear before entering the major road.

The "GIVE WAY" sign and road markings: you must give way to traffic on the major road (the upright sign or both the sign and the triangle on the road might not be used at junctions where there is relatively little traffic).

Regulatory / Order signs

How to earn your badge:

1. Draw or take photos of 10 different traffic signs. Explain to Leader, what they mean.

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Green Cross Code

Facts to Share Puffins, zebras, toucans, pelicans and equestrian are all different types of pedestrian crossings. There are also traffic islands and school crossings where you may find a patrol officer who will help school children cross the road.

To be safe on the road you need to use the following step. Number 1.

1.- Think

• Find a safe place to cross the road. Where possible cross at a: If possible, cross the road at: subways, footbridges, islands, zebra, puffin, pelican or toucan crossings, or where there is a crossing point controlled by a police officer, a school crossing patrol or a traffic warden. • Otherwise, choose a place where you can see clearly in all directions, and where drivers can see you. • Try to avoid crossing between parked cars and on sharp bends or close to the top of a hill. Move to a space where drivers and riders can see you clearly. • There should be space to reach the pavement on the other side.

To be safe on the road you need to use the following step. Number 2.

2.- Stop

• Just before you get to the kerb, stop. • Stand on the pavement near the kerb and make sure that you can see the traffic. DO NOT step on to the road.

To be safe on the road you need to use the following step. Number 3.

3.- Look and listen

• Look all around you for traffic. Make sure that you listen carefully for traffic that you can’t see. • Check to your right-hand side first, then check to your left and then to your right again before you cross. • Beware that some roads, called one-way streets, have all of the traffic moving in the same direction. • Watch out for bicycles or people on rollerblades. You often don’t hear them, but they travel very fast.

To be safe on the road you need to use the following step. Number 4

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4.- Wait

• If traffic is coming, let it pass. • If you are waiting at a crossing then wait until the cars have stopped or, at pelican, toucan, puffin or Pegasus crossings, the green man shows, before you cross. • If you are not at a crossing wait until it is safe to cross. • Once the traffic has passed look around again and listen.

To be safe on the road you need to use the following step. Number 5.

5.- Look and listen again

• When it is safe and there is no traffic, walk straight across the road. • Keep looking and listening while you cross the road. Watch out for cyclists, motorcyclists, and horse riders. Always walk straight across the road, DO NOT walk diagonally. • NEVER run across the road because you might fall over and you might not get up in time.

To be safe on the road you need to use the following step. Number 6.

6.- Arrive alive.

• Look and keep looking while you cross the road.

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How to earn your badge:

2. Show how to use the Green Cross Code. Explain to Leader.

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different types of pedestrian crossing.

Know your crossings

- BE SAFE

Facts to Share Puffins, zebras, toucans, pelicans and equestrian are all different types of pedestrian crossings. There are also traffic islands and school crossings where you may find a patrol officer who will help school children cross the road.

Zebra crossing

The name zebra comes from the black and white stripes on the road. They have: • Flashing yellow beacons on black and white striped poles. • Zig zag lines approaching the crossing. • No traffic lights or ‘green figure’ to show when to cross.

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Safety tips

• Because a zebra crossing does not have any traffic lights or green figure, it is up to the pedestrian to look and listen all around for traffic, to make sure all the traffic has stopped and that it’s safe to cross. • Zebra crossings with an island in the middle should be treated as two separate crossings.

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Pelican crossing

The name actually comes from the phrase ‘pedestrian light indication. They have: • Zig zag lines approaching the crossing. • Traffic lights. • A red figure telling pedestrians when to stop, a green figure to show when it is safe to cross. • An Activation Button. • A bleeping sound to show when it is safe to cross.

Puffin crossing

The name puffin comes from pedestrian user friendly intelligence. • Similar to pelican crossings but instead of a green and red figure being on the other side of the road, they are next to you above the push button. • They have motion detectors to know when someone is waiting to cross and when they have reached the other side of the road.

Toucan

The name toucan is based on the fact that ‘two can cross’ - because these are joint pedestrian and cycle crossings. • Similar to puffin crossings, a red and green cycle signal is given, as well as a red and green figure signal, as they allow both cyclists and pedestrians to cross. They are next to you above the push button, but they have motion detectors to know when someone is waiting to cross and when they have reached the other side of the road. • There are no flashing green figures. • These crossings are normally found near parks or cycle lanes.

Toucan - Safety tips

After a period of time the green figure will start flashing. Do not cross when the red figure shows or start to cross when the green figure begins to flash. If you have started to cross the road, you will have enough time to cross. • This is the only pedestrian crossing which has a flashing amber light as part of its sequence. • The crossing can be in a straight line or staggered; if it goes straight across the road then it is treated as one crossing even if it has a central island. If the crossing is staggered and not in line, then the crossings are treated as separate.

Equestrian crossing

These allow horses and their riders to cross. They may also have a separate crossing next to them for pedestrians, or pedestrians and cyclists. They do not have a flashing green figure.

School crossing

A school crossing patrol is a manned crossing (can be a zebra or traffic light crossing), with a uniformed warden who uses a ‘STOP’ sign to help. • When crossing with a patrol, pedestrians should stand well back, listen to the patrol’s instructions and cross in front of the patrol.

Safety tips

School crossing

• A school crossing patrol is a manned crossing (can be a zebra or traffic light crossing), with a uniformed warden who uses a ‘STOP’ sign to help.

Safety tips

• When crossing with a patrol, pedestrians should stand well back, listen to the patrol’s instructions and cross in front of the patrol.

Refuge island

Refuge islands are found in the middle of wider roads where there is no other type of crossing point (such as zebra or pelican). Refuge islands help to narrow the road giving pedestrians a safe area in which to wait before crossing the other half of the road.

Safety tips

Pedestrians should cross each part of the road separately, stopping on the island to look and listen all around for oncoming traffic. Drivers have priority over pedestrians at refuge islands.

Informations

Pelican, puffin and toucan crossings can also help blind and partially sighted people by sounding a bleeper when it is safe to cross. They can also give a tactile signal, with a small rotating cone under the push button that spins when the green figure shows.

How to earn your badge:

3. Tell a leader why it’s important to have different types of pedestrian crossing. Explain how to use them safely.

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know how to behave safely as a car passenger

No Feet on the Dashboard.

Aside from being dangerous, it's just gross. This isn't your living-room sofa, it's our precious car! Keep your stinky feet off the dash.

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Always Using a child car seat or booster seat.

This is second important point while driving. Wearing a seat belt while driving can save your life. It can prevent you from being thrown from your seat and crashing into the windscreen. Wearing a seat belt can reduce the risk of injury by at least 45% to 50%. Buckle up for safety. Seatbelts are an essential part of safe driving. Before you start driving, put on your seatbelt and make sure everyone else in the car is wearing theirs. If you have children in your car, check to make sure they’re buckled in properly.

Passengers Shouldn't Touch the Climate Controls.

This etiquette rule has our group divided: Half of us agree that the passenger should let the driver set the temperature, while the other half think passengers should get a say. Maybe play it safe and ask the driver first in case they're part of the second group. If you're riding in a car with dual-zone climate control, all of our editors agree that your zone is fair game.

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Let the Driver Choose the Tunes.

If we're putting in the wheel work, we'd like the final say on what's playing through the speakers. Feel free to suggest songs, podcasts, or radio stations, but don't take it personally if the driver vetoes your suggestion.

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Don't Eat or Smoke in the Car without the Driver's Permission.

Please wait until you get to your destination before tearing into your Crunchwrap or popping the lid and getting into your beef lo mein. Crumbs and debris can fall into hard-to-reach places between the seat and the console, and food smells can be hard to eradicate. Don't even get us started on lighting up a cigarette.

Don't Litter.

I mean, c'mon. Did we learn nothing from the Keep UK Beautiful ad campaign? Keep your trash contained inside your car until you can properly dispose of it. UK highways have enough issues with potholes; don't add a bunch of garbage to the equation.

Don't Slam the Doors.

This one is for passengers: Don't disrespect the driver's car by slamming the door when you get out. Uber drivers are known to give their fares lower star ratings if they slam the door getting out. Don't do it to your friends either.

Pull over if you need to reach for something.

Don’t try to reach back behind you. Aside from using phones, reaching for objects is another leading cause of distracted driving. Instead of trying to reach for something, just pull over for a moment so you can grab it safely.

Don't distracting the driver.

That funny meme you just got on Snapchat can wait until later. Don't try to show the driver something on your phone while he or she is driving. It's just as dangerous as if they were texting and driving, which is likely something you'd chastise them for. Likewise, minimize other distracting behaviors while riding shotgun.

Parents, Don't Text and Drive

Speaking of phones, how about no texting while driving? It's incredibly dangerous and everyone knows it. Yet Americans do this regularly, putting themselves, their passengers, and fellow motorists at risk of injury or death. Put the phone down and drive.

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No Kids or Pets Left Inside Hot Cars.

Unless you're driving one of those new Teslas with Dog Mode, you shouldn't be leaving your pet (or your kid!) inside the car, especially on hot days. It is literally deadly, so please don't do it.

How to earn your badge:

4. Show that you know how to behave safely as a car passenger. Explain to Leader.

transport are an important part of everyday life in most of the world, especially if you want to get out there and explore the open road. Explain to Leader how to identify different traffic signs, Green Cross Code, pedestrian crossing and behave safely. Are you ready ?

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Bibliography

https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/traffic-signs-signals-and-road-markingshttps://www.caranddriver.com/features/g27915336/driving-etiquette-rules/ https://www.rac.co.uk/drive/advice/learning-to-drive/the-highway-code-uk-road-signs-and-meanings/ https://edtimes.in/10-safety-rules-to-follow-while-driving/ https://www.scouts.org.uk/cubs/activity-badges/road-safety/ https://www.wikihow.com/Drive-a-Car-Safely

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