Signals by authorised persons

School crossing patrol: vehicles prepare to stop

Ready to cross pedestrians, vehicles must be prepared to stop

What does this signal mean?

The patrol raises the sign towards the traffic to show that they are ready to take children across and that vehicles must be prepared to stop. This is the warning phase, and you should be slowing to a stop as you see it rather than waiting for the sign to be fully presented. Stopping smoothly matters here because a hard stop invites the driver behind into your boot at a crossing full of children. Do not attempt to pass the patrol once the sign is raised.

Highway Code references

• Rule 210 from Road users requiring extra care (204 to 225)

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