Organisation: Welsh Government
Date of Publication: April 2026
Uploaded to Knowledge Centre: 24 April 2026
This document is a guide for planning and designing side road Zebra crossings. It sets out where this type of crossing may be suitable and provides guidance on how they should be designed and installed.
A side road Zebra crossing aims to enable more people cycling and driving to comply with Rule H2 of the highway code which gives priority to pedestrians crossing a side road.
The side road Zebra crossing uses the prescribed black and white markings and give way lines but does not require the zig-zag markings or the yellow globes (commonly known as Belisha beacons).
This offers two significant advantages:
- By not requiring zig-zag markings, the setback distance of the crossing is reduced, and it becomes possible to install the crossing on users’ desire lines, directly across the mouth of the junction.
- By not including illuminated yellow globes, the design and installation become simpler and more economical, also reducing maintenance costs.
Side road Zebra crossings can only be installed within 5 metres of the junction line and where both the main road and the side road have a speed limit of 20mph.
Allowing the use of side road Zebra crossings supports the Welsh Government’s ambition to give greater priority to walking and wheeling and supports an inclusive agenda of ‘Travel for All’.
Click the link below to access the guidance:
https://www.gov.wales/side-road-zebra-crossings-guidance-highway-authorities