Crossings: Getting to the other side
24 Aug 2026
Crossings help everyone get where they’re going safely, whether they’re walking, cycling, scooting or driving. But not all crossings work in the same way. Here’s how to spot the difference and use each one safely.
Why do we need crossings?
Crossings give people a safer, more visible place to cross the road. You’ll often find them where people regularly need to get to schools, shops, parks, bus stops and other community facilities.
Even an alert driver needs time and distance to react. The safest approach is to slow down, look out for others and be prepared to stop. A good rule of thumb: if in doubt, stop!
Pedestrian zebra crossings: stripes mean stop
Zebra crossings have white stripes, and people walking have priority.
- No traffic island – drivers and riders must stop for people on any part of the crossing or waiting to cross.
- Traffic island in the middle – stop for people on your half of the road.
- Traffic backed up – don’t enter the crossing unless there’s enough room to clear it completely.
Courtesy crossings: kindness counts
Courtesy crossings are often raised or made from contrasting paving, but they don’t have zebra stripes.
They aren’t official pedestrian crossings, so drivers aren’t required to stop for someone waiting on the footpath. However, drivers must give way to anyone already crossing. Slow down, make eye contact where possible and don’t assume others have seen you.
Stopping to let someone cross is a courtesy, hence the name.
School patrol crossings: signs out, brakes on
Some zebra crossings are managed by school patrols before and after school.
When the school patrol stop signs swing out, drivers and riders must stop at the white line. Stay stopped until the signs are withdrawn. A queue isn’t an invitation to block the crossing, only move forward when there’s room on the other side.
Kea crossings: temporary but important
Kea crossings are school crossing points without zebra stripes. They operate at set times, usually before and after school, and are identified by orange flags and school patrol stop signs.
When the stop signs are out, stop and wait until they are withdrawn.
Shared crossings: room for feet and wheels
Some crossings are designed for both pedestrians and people on bikes. They may have separate pedestrian and bike symbols or a cycle lane beside the pedestrian crossing.
- Cross only when your symbol is green.
- Look out for people moving at different speeds.
- If you’re riding, slow down and give people on foot plenty of space.
On a bike or scooter?
At an ordinary pedestrian crossing, get off and walk your bike, scooter or skateboard across. You can ride across designated cycle crossings, shared crossings and courtesy crossings, but do so carefully around people on foot.
At a signal-controlled cycle crossing, wait for the green bike symbol before riding across.
A few steps for a safer crossing
If you’re driving or riding on the road:
- slow down as you approach
- look for people waiting or already crossing
- be ready to stop
- keep the crossing clear when traffic is queued.
If you’re crossing:
- a pedestrian is required to use a pedestrian zebra crossing if within 20m of the crossing
- stop and check in both directions
- make sure approaching traffic has time to stop
- cross carefully and keep looking
- never assume you’ve been seen.
Slow down, look around, give each other space. That’s how we all get to the other side safely.
Interesting fact – it takes an alert driver 1.5 seconds to react to a pedestrian crossing the road. In that time at 50km/h, a car covers 21 metres on the road, plus an additional 27m to stop.