Editing Belisha beacon (section)

== History ==
The [[Ministry of Transport (United Kingdom)|UK Ministry of Transport]] decided to erect ‘Belisha beacons’ at kerbside, alongside pedestrian crossings. The first Belisha beacons were erected in the London authorities areas and, following the [[Road Traffic Act 1934]], were rolled out nationally in 1935.<ref>{{cite web |date= |title=Zebra crossing near Abbey Road Studios – 1396390 |url=https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1396390 |access-date=5 March 2017 |publisher=Historic England}}</ref> In December 1941, a study was made into the cost effectiveness of melting down the 64,000 Belisha beacon posts to make [[Ammunition|munitions]], a plan which threatened to "deprive the right hon. Member for Devonport (Mr. Hore-Belisha) of his last hope of immortality."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://hansard.parliament.uk/commons/1941-12-02/debates/3d96b146-afde-487c-be76-0791b7a1fa4a/MunitionsProduction(BelishaBeacons)|title=Munitions Production (Belisha Beacons) – Tuesday 2 December 1941 – Hansard – UK Parliament|access-date=18 May 2020|archive-date=11 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211011050242/https://hansard.parliament.uk/commons/1941-12-02/debates/3d96b146-afde-487c-be76-0791b7a1fa4a/MunitionsProduction(BelishaBeacons)|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 1948, the [[Central Office of Information]] produced a short film which showed the correct way to use a pedestrian crossing (without the stripes at this time).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/films/1945to1951/filmpage_pc.htm |title=Public Information Films {{!}} 1945 to 1951 {{!}} Film index {{!}} Pedestrian Crossing |website=National Archives |date= |accessdate=2017-03-05 |archive-date=11 October 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181011014111/http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/films/1945to1951/filmpage_pc.htm |url-status=live }}</ref>

[[File:Belisha beacon.webm|thumb|Belisha beacon at [[Kanhangad]], in [[Kerala]], [[India]]]]

Belisha beacons provide additional visibility to zebra crossings for motorists, primarily at night. The UK flash rate is 750 ms on, 750 ms off.<ref>British Standard BS 8442-2015, para 12</ref> 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 ring of flashing yellow [[Light-emitting diode|LED]] lights, preferred for their brightness and low electricity consumption, are replacing traditional [[Incandescent light bulb|incandescent bulbs]] in many areas.

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 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.

To be legally compliant in the UK, every zebra crossing must be equipped with two Belisha beacons. In cases where there is a [[Refuge island|traffic island]] or central reservation in the road, the traffic authority can opt whether to place one or more beacons centrally.<ref>{{cite legislation UK|type=si|si=The Zebra, Pelican and Puffin Pedestrian Crossings Regulations and General Directions 1997|year=1997|number=2400|access-date=13 February 2023}}</ref> An exception is crossings over cycle paths, which do not need beacons.<ref>{{cite legislation UK|si=The Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions 2016|type=si|year=1998|number=901|schedule=14|access-date=13 February 2023}}, paragraph 25(3).</ref>

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 [[pelican crossing]]s or [[puffin crossing]]s, 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.{{Citation needed|date=February 2023}}