Green Cross Code
The Green Cross Code is a pedestrian road safety initiative in the United Kingdom that provides a straightforward, six-step guide for crossing roads safely, primarily targeting children to prevent accidents and promote lifelong habits.[1] Launched in 1970 by the British government through the National Road Safety Committee (now part of the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents, RoSPA), it replaced the earlier Kerb Drill—a military-inspired pedestrian code that was deemed too rigid and confusing for young audiences—and has since become a foundational element of UK road safety education.[2] The code's steps emphasize awareness and caution: Think first to identify a safe place to cross, such as a designated pedestrian crossing or footbridge; Stop at the kerb without stepping into the road; Look right, left, and right again while listening for approaching traffic, including vehicles, bicycles, and e-scooters; Wait until all traffic has passed; Look and listen again before proceeding straight across; and Arrive alive by continuing to monitor surroundings until reaching the opposite pavement.[1] These guidelines were popularized through public information films featuring the Green Cross Code Man, a caped superhero mascot who "teleported" to assist children, portrayed by actor David Prowse (known for his role as Darth Vader) from 1975 to 1990, with the memorable slogan: "I won’t be there when you cross the road, so always use the Green Cross Code."[2] Over the decades, the Green Cross Code has evolved to address modern challenges, such as increased vehicle traffic and distractions like smartphones, with a revival campaign in 2014 during Road Safety Week that extended its messages to adults.[2] It remains integrated into school curricula and government resources, such as those from the Department for Transport's THINK! campaign.[3]History
Origins and Predecessors
The Kerb Drill emerged as a key pedestrian safety measure in the United Kingdom during World War II, introduced in 1942 by the Ministry of Transport in collaboration with the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA).[4] This military-style procedure was designed to teach children disciplined road-crossing habits amid wartime hazards like blackouts and increased vehicle traffic, drawing on drill commands to instill caution. Its five core steps were: (1) halt at the kerb; (2) look right; (3) look left; (4) look right again; and (5) if clear, quick march across without rushing.[5] The approach was promoted through public information films, school programs, and even board games, reflecting a governmental push for standardized safety training in an era of rising road risks.[4] In the post-war period, child pedestrian safety remained a pressing concern, with road fatalities among children highlighting the limitations of earlier measures. Between 1927 and 1937, over 14,000 children were killed on UK roads, averaging more than 1,000 deaths annually during the 1930s.[4] Although numbers declined below 1,000 after 1947, they stayed alarmingly high into the 1950s and 1960s, with approximately 500-600 child road deaths reported each year by the mid-1960s, many involving pedestrians amid booming car ownership and urban expansion.[6] These statistics underscored the need for more effective, age-appropriate education beyond the rigid Kerb Drill, prompting shifts toward engaging, narrative-based methods to better capture young children's attention. Influential precursors included RoSPA's development of child-friendly initiatives, such as the creation of the Tufty character in 1953 and the launch of the Tufty Club in 1961, which used storytelling and puppets to teach road safety to under-fives.[7] Enrolling over 50,000 members in its first year, the club represented a move away from drill-like instruction toward interactive learning.[4] In 1965, the Ministry of Transport established regional road safety committees to coordinate national efforts, emphasizing adaptable, child-centered strategies over outdated military formats.[8] These developments laid the groundwork for the Green Cross Code's introduction in 1970 as a more dynamic replacement.Launch and Early Development
The Green Cross Code was launched in April 1971 by the National Road Safety Committee, serving as a replacement for the earlier Kerb Drill, which had been criticized for its military-style instructions that confused young children.[2][4] Developed after 18 months of research involving the Road Research Laboratory, RoSPA, and the Department of Education and Science, the code aimed to provide a simpler, more child-friendly set of pedestrian safety guidelines amid rising road traffic casualties.[4] Initial promotion efforts focused on widespread distribution through schools, with materials including films, brochures, certificates, cartoons, wallcharts, and television fillers as part of a £500,000 three-month saturation campaign coordinated by the Central Office of Information in 1971.[4][9] These resources were supplemented by posters and public exhibitions to embed the code in educational programs, emphasizing practical road-crossing behaviors for children under nine who struggled with directional concepts in prior campaigns.[4] In the early 1970s, the code underwent modifications based on feedback from pilot testing funded by the Transport and Road Research Laboratory and the Department of the Environment, including the addition of a "Think" step as the first instruction to better address increasing traffic complexity and encourage situational awareness.[2][4] The National Road Safety Committee, responsible for the initiative, was later integrated into the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA), ensuring continued oversight of pedestrian safety education.[10]The Code
Core Steps
The Green Cross Code consists of six core steps designed to guide pedestrians, particularly children, in safely crossing roads by promoting awareness and caution. Introduced in 1970, this sequence simplified pedestrian safety instructions to make them more accessible and memorable compared to prior methods.[2] The steps emphasize a systematic approach: assessing the location, preparing to observe, checking for hazards, confirming safety, crossing attentively, and maintaining vigilance throughout. This structure evolved from the earlier Kerb Drill, which featured five more formal, military-style commands (Halt! Eyes right! Eyes left! Eyes right again! Quick march!), deemed less intuitive for young learners.[5]- Find a safe place to cross (Think!): The first step involves selecting an optimal location, such as a designated pedestrian crossing, a well-lit area with clear visibility, or a spot away from obstacles like parked cars or road bends that could obscure approaching traffic. This initial assessment minimizes risks by ensuring the pedestrian can see and be seen, prioritizing spots where the road ahead is straight and unobstructed.[2][11]
- Stand on the pavement near the kerb (Stop!): Position yourself at the edge of the pavement, one step back from the kerb to avoid stepping into the road prematurely. This creates a buffer zone, allowing time to evaluate the situation without encroaching on traffic flow and reducing the chance of accidental contact with vehicles.[2][11]
- Look all around and listen for traffic (Look and listen!): Scan in all directions—right, left, and right again—while actively listening for sounds of vehicles, including cars, bicycles, e-scooters, motorcyclists, or emergency services. This step addresses threats from multi-directional traffic, especially near junctions where vehicles may turn unexpectedly from side roads, ensuring comprehensive hazard detection before proceeding.[2][11][1]
- Wait until it is safe to cross (Wait!): Let all approaching traffic pass until there is a clear and safe gap. If using a crossing, wait for vehicles to stop or the signal to change. Look and listen again to confirm no hazards are approaching before deciding to proceed. Do not judge vehicle speeds or rush.[2][11][1]
- Look and listen again before crossing (Go straight across!): When traffic has cleared, walk straight across the road at a steady pace, perpendicular to the traffic flow. Continue looking and listening for any emerging threats, such as turning vehicles, cyclists, or e-scooters, especially near junctions. Do not run or cross diagonally to maintain visibility to drivers.[2][11][1]
- Arrive alive!: Keep looking and listening for traffic until you have safely reached the opposite pavement. Stay close to the kerb if possible to minimize time in the road and avoid straying into lanes.[2][11][1]