Green Cross Code

Contents

1 Overview 2 The Green Cross Code 3 The Green Cross Code Man 4 Links

Overview

The Green Cross Code is a brand created by the UK National Road Safety Committee / NRSC (now the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents / RoSPA ) to raise awareness of pedestrian safety in the UK. The multimedia Green Cross Code campaign began in 1970 and continues today.

The Green Cross Code

The Green Cross Code itself is a short step-by-step procedure designed to enable pedestrians to cross streets safely. While the Code has undergone several changes over the years, the basic tenets ("Stop, Look, Listen, Think") have remained more or less the same. The 2005 version of the Green Cross Code reads as follows:

1. THINK FIRST. Find the safest place to cross, then stop.

2. STOP. Stand on the pavement near the kerb.

3. USE YOUR EYES AND EARS. Look all around for traffic, and listen.

4. WAIT UNTIL IT'S SAFE TO CROSS. If traffic is coming, let it pass.

5. LOOK AND LISTEN. When it's safe, walk straight across the road.

6. ARRIVE ALIVE. Keep looking and listening for traffic while you cross.

The Green Cross Code Man

The Green Cross Code Man is a costumed superhero character created as an aid to teaching young children the Green Cross Code, and for promoting general road safety. British actor David Prowse, MBE, a bodybuilder and former Mr. Universe, is famous for his portrayal of the character in a well-known series of Public Information Films (PIFs) which ran on UK television from 1976 to 1990.

The Green Cross Code Man has the power to teleport from his monitoring station at Green Cross Control to any location where youths are in need of pedestrian safety instruction. He accomplishes this by use of a wristwatch-like "Dematerializer" device. On these missions he is sometimes accompanied by a whimsical robot companion.

His signature exclamation of surprise or disbelief is "Green Crosses!" and his slogan is "I won't be there when you cross the road / So always use the Green Cross Code".

Links

Hedgehogs.gov.uk (Green Cross Code website)

RoSPA

Think! Road Safety (UK Department for Tranport)

David Prowse Official Website