Traffic Light

Pedestrian crossing control panel in Dubai

Sounds

In some jurisdictions such as Australia and Ireland pedestrian lights are associated with a sound device, for the benefit of blind and visually impaired pedestrians. These make a slow beeping sound when the pedestrian lights are red and a continuous buzzing sound when the lights are green. In the Australian territories of New South Wales, Victoria and Western Australia, the sound is produced in the same unit as the push buttons. This system of assistive technology is also widely used at busy intersections in Canadian cities.
The United Kingdom, the Puffin crossings and their predecessor, the Pelican crossing, will make a slow beeping sound to indicate that it is safe to cross the road. The beeping sound is disabled during the night time so as not to disturb any nearby residents.^[18]

Australia

In Australia, the light sequence is:

Green man: safe to cross the intersection
Flashing red man: continue to cross if already in the intersection, but do not start to cross
Red man: do not cross

Some traffic lights in Melbourne had countdown timers for pedestrian crossing lights, usually a countdown from 30 when the red flashing man appeared. This however was a trial and was removed as it resulted in large amounts of jaywalking. Some traffic-light controlled junctions have a light sequence that stops all vehicular traffic at the junction at the same time, and gives pedestrians exclusive access to the intersection so that they can cross in any direction (including diagonally). This is known as a "pedestrian scramble" in some places.

European standard

Bicycle traffic lights in Vienna

The European approach to a signalized crossing is to use dual or, more rarely, a triple aspect^[19] with a blackened out lens of a pictogram pedestrian. For cyclists, the same approach is used, with the lens blackened out for a bicycle frame. It is not uncommon to see lenses with both symbols on them. Most European countries use orange instead of yellow for the middle light.
The light sequence is:

Green: safe to cross.
Yellow or orange: continue to cross only if unable to stop safely.
Flashing yellow or orange: cross with caution (often used when lights are out of order or shut down).
Red: do not cross.

In Germany, the Czech Republic and some other Central European countries, a combination of red and orange lights is used just before the switch back to green. It allows drivers to stop their engines during the red light. The light sequence is as follows:^{[citation needed]}

Green: safe to cross.
Orange: continue to cross only if unable to stop safely.
Flashing orange: cross with caution, obey signage (used when lights are out of order or shut down).
Red: do not cross.
Red and orange: do not cross, prepare for green.

The light is blackened out with a pedestrian pictogram.
Ampelmännchen pedestrian traffic signals have come to be seen as a nostalgic sign for the former German Democratic Republic.

British standard

In the United Kingdom, British Crown dependencies and dependent territories, and former possessions like Hong Kong:

Green walking man: cross with caution (pedestrians have the right of way; motorists turning left or right must yield to pedestrians.
Flashing green walking man: continue to cross if already in the intersection, but do not start to cross.
Red or orange standing man: do not cross.

The same system is used also in Macau.^{[clarification needed]}

China standard

Blue/White: .
Yellow: Do not cross.
Flashing Yellow: Do not cross.
Red/Orange: Do not cross.

North American standard

File:Pedestrian crossing light washington dc.ogv

Play media

Pedestrian sign in Washington, D.C.

In North America, the most common aspects found are text-only lenses ("walk" and "don't walk") or the pictogram of a red or orange hand and a walking person (in white, green or blue). Increasingly for retrofits of dual aspects and newer installations, the lower aspect formerly used for the "walk" signal (a walking person) is being replaced with a timer countdown. The raised hand pictogram first appeared in the city of Westmount, Montreal, and was invented by Alexander Heron, having observed a policeman's gloved hand controlling a crossing.^{[citation needed]}
The light sequence is:

Green, blue, or white walking human or "walk": cross with caution (pedestrians have the right of way; motorists turning left or right must yield to pedestrians).
Flashing red or orange stop hand or "don't walk": do not start crossing, but continue if already in the middle of the intersection.
Red or orange stop hand or "don't walk": do not enter the intersection

The U.S. state of Massachusetts allows an unusual indication variation for pedestrian movement. At signalized intersections without separate pedestrian signal heads, the traffic signals may be programmed to turn red in all directions, followed by a steady display of yellow lights simultaneously with the red indications. During this red-plus-yellow indication, the intersection is closed to vehicular traffic and pedestrians may cross, usually in whatever direction they choose (this is known as a "Barnes dance").^{[citation needed]}