"Richard J." wrote in message
. uk...

"Helen Deborah Vecht" wrote in message
...
"John Rowland" typed

The correct English name is "studs", not "nails". They used them
here in the 1970s, but I don't think they use them now.

Ziz-zags replaced studs at zebra crossings in the early 1970s
(?1971) if my memory is correct.

Depends which studs you are talking about, but first a bit of history:

I believe that pedestrian crossings marked with studs existed before 1934,
but in that year Leslie Hore-Belisha, as Minister of Transport, added to
the crossings the yellow 'Belisha' beacons, which were continuously lit.
Then, in 1951, these were changed to Zebra Crossings, with white stripes
painted between the rows of studs, and flashing beacons.

Later, a double row of studs on the approach side of the road were added
to define the area in which parking of vehicles was prohibited. It is
these studs that were later changed to zig-zag lines. Meanwhile, the
studs marking the width of the crossing remained, though generally
replaced by squares of white paint. Example at
http://atschool.eduweb.co.uk/ecchav/...reet/str11.htm

Note however, that these painted "studs" are redundant as there are also
dotted lines across the road. I believe that the studs are not now used
on new crossings.

Nicolas may be interested in this site which says that white lines (to
mark the centre of the road) were first introduced in 1927:
http://www.roadsafetyuk.co.uk/histall.htm

There was also an experiment in the 1960s with an alternative crossing
called a Panda Crossing:
http://newssearch.bbc.co.uk/onthisda...00/3044335.stm


It was not a success: "...the black and white triangular markings with their
sequence of flashing lights have caused little more than utter confusion on
the roads."
http://newssearch.bbc.co.uk/onthisda...00/2840919.stm