Your learner has stopped at a pelican crossing. They ask you to explain what the flashing amber light means. What should you tell them?
- A Continue to wait for the green light
- B Continue to wait for the red light
- C Give way to pedestrians waiting to cross
- D Give way to pedestrians on the crossing
Why this is the answer
Pelican crossings are signal-controlled crossings operated by pedestrians. Push-button controls change the signals. Pelican crossings have no red-and-amber stage before green. Instead, they have a flashing amber light, which means you must give way to pedestrians on the crossing, but if it's clear, you may continue.
Why the other answers don't fit
- A
- Continue to wait for the green light — Waiting for green when the crossing is clear blocks the road for no reason.
- B
- Continue to wait for the red light — Red has already been and gone; the flashing amber follows it.
- C
- Give way to pedestrians waiting to cross — People waiting at the kerb do not hold you during the flashing phase.
Where this comes from
- Driving: the essential skills — section 7
- The Highway Code — rule 196–198
Rule numbers link to The Highway Code on gov.uk.
Where this question comes from
The question, its options and the explanation are reproduced word for word from the DVSA revision question bank under licence. The licence requires them to appear unaltered, so we cannot reword them and neither can anyone else — that is why you will meet the same wording on other sites. Everything else on this page is written by Theory Hub: the explanation of why each wrong answer is wrong, the topic guide and the revision notes.
Asked in: Driving Instructor (ADI Part 1)
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