In the United Kingdom, a puffin crossing is a signal-controlled crossing that uses sensors to detect pedestrians waiting to cross.
“Puffin” is derived from “pedestrian user-friendly intelligent.” Unlike the older pelican design, puffin signals place the red and green pedestrian displays beside the crossing, where the person waiting can see them. Detectors can identify whether someone is still waiting or crossing, allowing the signal timing to respond to actual use.
The system is intended to reduce unnecessary vehicle stops and help prevent the pedestrian phase from ending too soon. Puffin crossings do not use the flashing amber vehicle phase associated with traditional pelican crossings.
A toucan crossing adds cyclists as an intended user group, while a zebra crossing relies on road markings and driver priority rules rather than traffic signals. These names are similar, so identifying the signal equipment and user group is important.