Pedestrian verses car incidents

If you are referring to a marked pedestrian crossing then you couldn't be more ill-informed.

Hi Pinko,

Not sure about the statistics but I was always brought up that if it is the zebra crossing (black and white marks) the pedestrians had right of way, driver had to stop and give way to them. We have a crossing in our suburb near the shops that is sign posted that pedestrians have to give way to vehicles.
Does not always happen.
I also understand what you mean about "I am the pedestrian they have seen me , I have the right away"
That is why I am always very careful when approaching these crossings.
I drummed it into my kids at a very early age to be very cautious when crossing at a pedestrian crossing or the road in any place.

Cheers
Simon

i think these days the pedestrian plays russian roulette.

i have had so many near misses from drivers on pedestrain crossings it's not funny.

me thinks i need to wear my steel cap boots and leave a impression of it in there doors.
or carry a really really big stick.

in queanbeyan, there are signs saying car has right of way...

few towns i have visited don't have that sign to let you know, or drivers don't care!!!

Pinko,

not quite right. From WA road safety regulations;

· Pedestrian crossings (regulations 62, 63, 144, 199 & 214)
"These crossings are more commonly called zebra crossings. Vehicles are required to give way to pedestrians on a pedestrian crossing and to not overtake another vehicle stopping or stopped at a pedestrian crossing. If a pedestrian wishes to cross a carriageway and is within 20m of a pedestrian crossing, the crossing must be used."

Here's a link to a handy document providing an interpretation of WA road rules/legislation as it relates to pedestrians (who in most cases, have the right of way over vehicles and always do on pedestrian crossings).

WA pedestrian law

I have noted that some crossings at roundabouts in certain areas of Victoria (Mildura CBD is one example) pedestrians must give way to vehicles but this is an anomaly and clearly indicated by signs.

Cheers Mick

I’ve worked on the basis that if approaching the cross-walk on foot as a pedestrian then assume all cars will blissfully be unaware of you and take precautions so as not to get run over, and if I’m approaching the cross-walk in a car assume all pedestrians will blissfully be unaware of you and take precautions not to run them over.

I found it works well regardless of legalities and either way I’ve avoided becoming a statistic….so far! And I think it pays to teach all children to have a healthy dose of skepticism when it comes to other road users, whether they are drivers, or pedestrians.

Cheers, The Landy

Not arguing either way, but what is the point of a "pedestrian" crossing that gives cars right of way???

Cheers.....Browny

Hi all,

In my experience you would find that all states basically say that vehicles must give way to peds. at "marked pedestrian crossings".

In Victoria i have noticed that councils tend to mark speed humps, pedestrian walkways in shopping centres etc with paint-work that may look like pedestrian crossings at a glance but are not. A pedestrian crossing must have the appropriate signage displayed for any approaching driver.

It pays to be careful at any time.

Bill S.

Penrith NSW had crossings in the main street with signs that pedestrians must give way to cars as well. I always thought it was stupidity to have local exceptions to a pretty standard rule. Not everyone reads the signs and I saw plenty of near misses. Mike

And in my town we have no pedestrian crossings at all ,though we do have a marked Dinosaur crossing , like to see you lot not give way to Muttabusaurass Langdoni when it wants to cross the road to the pub ! Bullbar or not you will give way!

Image Could Not Be Found



Hi Stan

You are right about the pedestrian Give Way signs in Esperance. Cars have the right of way at crossings in the CBD. There are four Give Way signs at each crossing. The locals seem to be used to them but it's the tourists that don't notice the signs.

And yes... I live in Esperance!!

Interesting replies people. A clear example of the need to do away with State Governments so we can have uniform laws for road rules, licensing, firearms, boats etc etc.

Jim.

WA, The smart state, they get things right.

.

There is a Pedestrian Give Way To All Traffic at a crossing in Tugan on the Gold Coast, it's about 20 metres from a Roundabout, it also has a centre island so they can stop if a vehicle is approaching when they get to the middle of the road, I reckon there should be more of them where the roads are not so busy.

Cheers

Pinko,
You're lucky in NSW where as you say, pedestrians walk onto a crossing with he attitude 'I'm ok' with the assumption that they have been seen.

In WA the pedestrians are too busy mobile phoning , texting or listening to iPod music to have any awareness of where they are in relation to cars, other people or even lampposts.

No wonder that the pedestrian injury/death toll is on the rise...............yet the authorities are blaming the vehicles and/or drivers.

Disco.

Not quite on your thread but fits in under the Pedestrian Versus Car Incidents

The problem is a lot of people do not know how to use a pedestrian crossing, they only think "I have right of way so I am allowed to jump out in front of traffic and .... get killed."

1. Walk to crossing.
2. WAIT until traffic has stopped.
3. Walk across.

NOT

1. Jog along the footpath and suddenly take a 90deg turn across the crossing.
2. Give finger to cars who have screeched through the crossing unable to stop.

D

Ok Guys, here is my two bob's work.
I was brought up to stop at the kerb and wait for traffic to stop before crossing.
Very seldom do you see people do this any more. I will stop until the vehicle has stopped before crossing. I am of the understanding that not ALL vehicles will stop.
Something to do with self preservation, I believe.

The NSW road rules, Pedestrian crossing road rules

School Crossing have another set of rules.
I'm sorry I can find the link to the RTA documentation on this.
At a school crossing, The White solid line across the road is as good as a Stop Sign, Whether or not anybody is attempting to cross or not.
Here is some Information
I've been fighting our local council and the RTA to get motorist and heavy vehicle to slow down out side our school for over five years now.
The biggest offenders are the parents. Just watch how parents grab the arm of their child and drag them across the crossing or across another part of the street and force cars to stop. They are teaching kids, 1) that cars will stop for you, 2) you don't need to use a crossing.

Now, having said all that, another pet hate is when some dope on council or the RTA, thinks it's a good thing to put a crossing at each of the entry/exists to a roundabout at a very busy intersection.
It can cause the main street of a town to become clogged due to pedestrians continually using the crossings.

Under the Australian Road Rules, it's illegal for a Pedestrian to walk along the road, if there is a Footpath.

Hmm,
How to be a safe pedestrian
Please tell me that this is a bit of,(I Hate using these words) Common Sense.
Gee wiz, I had this drummed into to me some 40 odd years ago as a five year old at school and by my parents.
Why it's Harold Scrubby advocating good pedestrian practice?.
Because it's easier blame something else for the problem rather than address the the cause.

There are three types of crossings that spring to mind.

1) Pedestrian crossing (zebra) will be marked on the road and have signs erected, you must give way at zebra crossings

2) Pedestrian refuges - These are crossing where pedestrians have to give way to traffic and are always signed as such

3) The 3rd is not so obvious it is called a shared zone. The road enterance is normally signed at about 10k and pedestrians and vehicles vcan share the road and mind out for each other.

Cheers Tony