Actually...
This is rule 19 of the Highway Code:

"Zebra crossings. Give traffic plenty of time to see you and to stop before you start to cross. Vehicles will need more time when the road is slippery. Wait until traffic has stopped from both directions or the road is clear before crossing. Remember that traffic does not have to stop until someone has moved onto the crossing. Keep looking both ways, and listening, in case a driver or rider has not seen you and attempts to overtake a vehicle that has stopped."

So it's only mandatory once there is someone actually on the crossing. Drivers are required to remain stationary until everyone is off the crossing (i.e. they cannot drive off once they have a clear space in front of them). One with an island in the middle is two crossings, so you can drive off if the crossing in front of you is clear.

I have, on several occasions, had to slam the brakes on because someone has just walked out onto the crossing without stopping and without the slightest concern for the oncoming traffic because they assume that everything has to stop for them. This is not the case.

Also, crossings on private property are not, strictly speaking, mandatory as the land and the crossing are not governed by the Highways Act. Most of the ones that I have seen are not technically valid anyway as they have not been constructed with the correct street furniture and line markings, so would not be enforcable even if they were under the control of the Highways Act.
(An eejit passing by in a purple satin skirt with sparkly bits, Sun 7 Oct 2012, 17:46, 1 reply)

Good
I'm glad someone pointed this out - pedestrians only have right of way on a zebra crossing once they're on it, and they're supposed to wait for any traffic that is around to stop before they start to cross.

Similarly, pedestrians on Pelican crossings only have right of way once the green man is lit.

I don't say this just as an occasionally-frustrated driver, but as a pedestrian who doesn't really want any legs put in traction.

Those of us born before 1990 are generally aware of this, because most of us have seen Dave Prowse or whomever telling us the Green Cross Code.

Nowadays, even if they were still shown, the Sky+-toting herds would never know 'cos they'd fast forward to the bits on X Factor where Tulisa leans right forward so you can almost see her tits.
( shinyshinyscalp less a man, more a way of life, Mon 8 Oct 2012, 16:16, closed)