Pelican Pedestrians
Updated We 2-Jul-25
Made in 1969, this cartoon introduced pedestrians to a brand new way to safely cross the road - at traffic lights they could control by pushing a button. Deryck Guyler is the voice of the man teaching his granddaughter how to use the crossing.
Pelican crossings are now rare: most have been replaced by the puffin crossing, which has no flashing green man. In this film the lights show the original crossing, where the red and green man had no circular hoods.
A man and his granddaughter are waiting to cross the road at a pelican crossing. He begins to explain how the crossing works…
Grandad:
Now this is a
PEDESTRIAN
LIGHT
CONTROLLED
CROSSING.
The
PELICAN CROSSING.
To cross the road, you press the button and wait. Wait until the red man changes to the green man.
Close-up of green man. Crossing makes beeping sound.
See? Yes, now if all's clear, we can cross.
They cross the road.
There we are. Oh dear, I've left me brolly behind.
Girl:
I'll get it, Grandad!
Grandad:
No! Stop! The green man is flashing.
Girl:
Ooh!
Grandad:
Yes. That means the lights are about to change.
Girl:
Ooh!
Grandad:
So you mustn't start to cross.
Girl:
Ooh! I see.
Grandad:
There's a good girl. Now remember, you have to wait until the red man changes to green. Then, if all is clear, cross.
Close-up of traffic light is in thought cloud above Grandad's head. Crossing beeps on green man as before.
Girl:
Ah!
Grandad:
Don't forget, when the green man flashes, it's too late to step out.
There... Oh, it's started to rain. [Sniffs.] Wish I'd brought me brolly!
- Pelican Pedestrians is available to watch online at the Internet Archive.
- There was another cartoon to accompany this one, explaining how the crossings worked from the motorist's point of view. Deryck Guyler this time plays the part of the driver. Pelican Motorists is also available at the Internet Archive.
- The launch of the Pelican Crossing in London in 1969 by the transport minister was covered by British Pathé. You can watch this on YouTube.
- BBC Rewind also has footage of the introduction of Pelican Crossings in Bristol, where the green man on the signals appears to be facing the wrong way!
- In 1976, another pair of public information films about pelican crossing were made starring the cast of Dad's Army. One of these can be see on the BFI's YouTube channel.
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