Highway & Streets Glossary#

Plain-English definitions of the highway and street terms used across these pages, so nobody has to interpret transport jargon. It’s common practice to include a short glossary like this alongside consultation documents and council reports.

Belisha beacon — The flashing amber globe on a black-and-white striped pole that marks a zebra crossing.
Build-out — A raised section with kerbs built out into the road to narrow it or mark parking. (Surrey CC)
Chicane — Staggered build-outs that introduce bends into a longer straight stretch of road, to slow traffic. (Surrey CC)
Granite setts — Small square stone blocks used as a road surface; the change in texture and sound naturally encourages slower driving.
Pedestrian crossing — A designated place for people to cross the road safely, such as a zebra crossing or a signal-controlled crossing.
Raised table — A flat, raised section of road at pavement level, usually at a junction or crossing. (Surrey CC)
Rumble strips — A section of rough surfacing that alerts drivers through vibration when driven over at speed. (Surrey CC)
SAMs (Smiley Activated Messages) — Roadside signs that detect a vehicle’s speed and show a smiley or sad face to encourage drivers to slow down. Also known as vehicle-activated or speed-indicator signs.
Speed cushion — A speed hump that doesn’t cover the full width of the lane — wide enough for buses, but not cars. (Surrey CC)
Textured surfacing — A rougher or patterned road surface used to encourage slower speeds or highlight a crossing point.
Traffic calming — Street design that naturally encourages slower, more considerate driving and improves the experience for everyone using the street. (Surrey CC)
Vertical deflection — A change in the height of the road over a short distance, such as a speed hump. (Surrey CC)
Zebra crossing — A pedestrian crossing marked with black-and-white stripes and Belisha beacons, where people crossing have priority.

Definitions marked (Surrey CC) are adapted from Surrey County Council’s Healthy Streets glossary. The rest are our own plain-English summaries.