Quote:
Originally Posted by HillStreetBlues
I'm still not confident I know what a "crossover" is, though.
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A crossover is also nicknamed a "PED XING" because of the signs used to identify it. It is a crosswalk dedicated to pedestrians, generally midblock, and not part of an intersection. They are usually push-button activated with alternating overhead amber flashing lights.
As far as I know, we do not have any of these in Hamilton. Hamilton has opted to install traffic stoplights at these crosswalks, which was a safer option. "Clearing half" was never an issue, as all traffic had a red light while pedestrians were permitted to cross. What the new legislation does is make the "Ped Xings" almost identical to stoplight-controlled crosswalks.
I tend to think that stoplight-controlled crosswalks are better for two reasons. One, it reduces the number of different control devices that drivers have to observe. Two, pedestrian are supposed to follow a procedure to cross at "crossovers," though they never do, and likely aren't even aware of what they are supposed to do. (Stop, square up, INDICATE, wait for traffic to stop safely, LOOK, cross)
The legislation also applies to any standard crosswalk being controlled by a school crossing guard. I believe (don't take my word for it here) that all rules about a "divided roadway" would still apply in these cases.