A crosswalk, also known as a pedestrian crossing, is a designated place for pedestrians to cross a road, street, or avenue. Crosswalks make it safer for pedestrians to cross the street, and if the pedestrian has priority over vehicular traffic when using the crossing, then they have an incentive to use the crossing instead of crossing the road at other places. The simplest marked crossings may just consist of some markings on the road surface, while others have traffic signals that show when its safe to cross. In the US, crosswalks are sometimes marked with white stripes, though many municipalities have slightly different styles. In the UK, they are often called zebra crossings, referring to the alternate white and black stripes painted on the road surface. Some crosswalks, known as colorful crossings, include unique designs, many of which take the form of artwork. Crosswalks are usually placed at traffic intersections or crossroads, but are occasionally used at mid-block locations.