Editing Pedestrian crossing (section)

====Continental Europe====
[[File:20241120 094517 Zebrastreifen 01.jpg|thumb|The typical Continental pedestrian crossing sign]]
[[File:Panneaux_suisses_3.02_2.41.1.jpg|alt=A roundabout with a pedestrian crossing across one arm, except the crossing stripes are yellow.|thumb|Swiss yellow pedestrian crossings]]
[[File:Ampelmann gruen.jpg|thumb|A Berlin {{Lang|de|Ampelmännchen}} signal, showing green]]
Nearly every country of [[Continental Europe]] is party to (though has not necessarily ratified) the [[Vienna Convention on Road Signs and Signals|Vienna Convention on Road Signs and Signals (1968)]], which says of pedestrian crossings: 'to mark pedestrian crossings, relatively broad stripes, parallel to the axis of the carriageway, should preferably be used'.<ref>{{cite book |url=https://treaties.un.org/doc/Treaties/1978/06/19780606%2000-35%20AM/CTC-xi-b-20-searchable.pdf |title=Convention on Road Signs and Signals |date=8 November 1968 |series=United Nations Treaty Series |volume=1091 |location=Vienna |page=27 |language=en, fr, zh, ru, es |chapter=Article 29 |via=United Nations Treaty Collection}}</ref> This means that pedestrian crossing styles are quite uniform across the Continent. However, while the stripes are normally white, in Switzerland they are yellow.<ref>{{Citation |last=Mazzone |first=Francesco |title=International cooperation to improve the safety of European pedestrian crossings |date=25 November 2008 |url=https://www.polisnetwork.eu/uploads/Modules/PublicDocuments/pedestrian_crossings_intro.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180329055817/https://www.polisnetwork.eu/uploads/Modules/PublicDocuments/pedestrian_crossings_intro.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-date=2018-03-29}}</ref>

Furthermore, the [[Vienna Convention on Road Traffic|Vienna Convention on Road Traffic (1968)]] states that pedestrians should use pedestrian crossings when one is nearby (§6.c) and prohibits the overtaking of other vehicles approaching crossings, unless the driver would be able to stop for a pedestrian.<ref name="unece.org convention road traffic2">{{Citation |title=Convention on Road Traffic |url=http://www.unece.org/fileadmin/DAM/trans/conventn/Conv_road_traffic_EN.pdf |via=unece.org}}</ref> The 1971 European supplement to that Convention re-iterates the former and outlaws the standing or parking of vehicles around pedestrian crossings. It also specifies signs and markings: the  "pedestrian crossing sign" is on a blue or black ground, with a white or yellow triangle where the symbol is displayed in black or dark blue, and that the minimum width recommended for pedestrian crossings is 2.5 m (or 8-foot) on roads on which the speed limit is lower than 60 km/h (or 37 mph), and 4 m (or 13-foot) on roads with a higher or no speed limit.<ref name="ReferenceA2">{{Citation |title=Convention on Road Signs and Signals of 1968; European Agreement Supplementing the Convention; and Protocol on Road Markings, Additional to the European Agreement |date=2006 |url=http://www.unece.org/fileadmin/DAM/trans/conventn/Conv_road_signs_2006v_EN.pdf |series=ECE/TRANS/196 |publisher=United Nations Publication}}</ref>

In France, it is not mandatory that crosswalks exist. However, if there is one less than 50 meters (55 yards) away, pedestrians are obliged to use it.<ref>Code de la route, article R412-37</ref>

In the east of Germany, including [[Berlin]], the unique ''[[Ampelmännchen]]'' design for pedestrian lights are widely used. These signals originated in the former East Germany and have become an icon of the city and of [[ostalgie]] – nostalgia for East German life. A study has shown they are more effective than Western-style icons.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2013-08-20 |title=Go ahead: Bring back East Germany's little traffic light man, say |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/go-ahead-bring-back-east-germany-s-little-traffic-light-man-say-researchers-8776994.html |access-date=2023-06-18 |website=The Independent |language=en}}</ref>