Why is there a little green man at crossings?

Picture yourself at the side of a busy street, holding a grown-up's hand. Cars go whoosh, whoosh, past you. Across the road, a small box glows. Inside it stands a tiny man made of light.

You may have spotted him on your walks. Why is there a little green man at crossings? Let's find out together.

Cars and people both need the road at a crossing. The cars want to drive along it. The people want to walk across it. They cannot both go at the same time, because that would not be safe.

So the crossing has lights that take turns. Each light is a signal, which means a light that tells people when to stop or go. One signal faces the drivers. Another signal faces the people on foot.

While the cars are driving, the man on your signal glows red. He stands very still with his feet together. He tells you to wait at the side of the road.

Then the drivers' signal turns from green to yellow, and then to red. The drivers see it and stop their cars. Now the road is quiet. What do you think the little man does next?

He turns green! Now his legs stretch out, as if he is taking a big step. The green man tells you it is your turn to walk across.

The drivers wait at their red light while you cross. Your grown-up checks that the cars have stopped. Then you and your grown-up walk over together.

One word to remember: traffic light. When the drivers stop at red, the light's green man tells you it is your turn.

The next time the little green man lights up, you will know just what he is saying to you.