Pedestrian safety is about using common sense, but we can’t rely on this alone. Australian road laws are in place to protect everyone who shares the streets and paths.
The rules are guided by common principles across the states and territories, with minor variations between jurisdictions.
These laws may seem harsh to some, but pedestrians are some of our most vulnerable road users, NRMA road safety expert Dimitra Vlahomitros says.
“We know that those who are most vulnerable are our very young, our very old and also people who are intoxicated.”
Who is a pedestrian?
The legal definition of a pedestrian is surprisingly broad.
“Within Australia pedestrians aren’t just those people that are walking on foot on the pavement or down the street,” RACV’s Head of Policy, James Williams explains.
[A pedestrian is] in fact anyone pushing a bicycle or using a wheeled device such as a skateboard, roller skates, rollerblades, wheelchairs, but also mobility scooters.”James Williams, Head of Policy, RACV
It’s an offence to walk without reasonable consideration of other road users. Credit: vm/Getty Images
Getting caught out while crossing the road
Keeping safe around our roads means crossing at the pedestrian traffic lights whenever possible and obeying the signal.
Walk when you see the green person signal. Don't commence your crossing when the signal is red or flashing.
Crossing the road against the pedestrian traffic signals can attract a fine. It’s commonly referred to as jaywalking, although this is not a legal term in Australia.
“It's an American idea,” Harold Scruby says. He is CEO and founder of the Pedestrian Council of Australia.
“In Australia the rule is very clear. A pedestrian can cross any road, any time with care, providing it's not within 20 metres of a pedestrian crossing and providing it's not against a red flashing light or a red light.”
In NSW you could even be fined if you start crossing on the flashing red signal.
Road with speed hump sign. This type of speed hump is usually confused with a zebra crossing. Source: iStockphoto / Veronica Todaro/Getty Images/iStockphoto
Where to cross the road
In the absence of traffic lights, look for a designated ‘zebra crossing’. It’s a section of road painted with white stripes, where cars must give way to pedestrians.
The crossing is sometimes raised to form what is affectionately known as a ‘wombat crossing’ – a zebra crossing painted onto a road hump.
This regularly causes confusion: Is this a crossing or a speed hump, designed to slow traffic down?
Look for visual cues, such as a footpath leading you to the crossing, or a sign bearing a person or two legs crossing.
Is there some fencing preventing you from walking across a speed hump, or a ‘no pedestrian access’ sign which you must obey?
A speed hump also lacks the zebra crossing stripes, and instead features uneven white markings that resemble piano keys on either side.
How to cross the road safely
If there is no crossing nearby it's important that pedestrians take the shortest and most direct route across the road. This is usually straight across and not on an angle,” Mr Williams says.
“Additionally what people might not be aware of is that it’s against the law, if you are crossing the road, to put yourself into the path of a moving vehicle because of course that could cause a hazard.”
Drivers must give way to pedestrians when entering or leaving a driveway, when using shared zones and at pedestrian crossings. Source: Moment RF / Diane Keough/Getty Images
Can you walk on the road?
You may be surprised to learn that you could be fined for walking on the street.
It’s an offence to walk without reasonable consideration of other road users. In most jurisdictions walking on the road when there’s a footpath or nature strip nearby is an offence.
If there’s no footpath or nature strip, pedestrians can use the road.
“However RACV certainly recommends that you walk facing the traffic,” Mr Williams says.
“It’s safer to walk towards oncoming traffic rather than have the cars driving up behind you.”
Pedestrians can have right of way
Drivers must give way to pedestrians when entering or leaving a driveway, when using shared zones and at pedestrian crossings.
Smart phones have bred a population of pedestrians who show disregard for traffic and the impending danger. Credit: Dobrila Vignjevic/Getty Images
Fines
Penalties can vary according to where you live.
In Victoria for example, fines start at $96 for failing to obey traffic lights, crossing the road within 20 metres of a pedestrian crossing, or for walking on the road.
“Failing to obey a traffic direction by a police officer is a $385 penalty,” Mr Williams warns.
Pedestrian etiquette
Rules that don’t attract a fine, such as keeping to the left on the footpath or not being distracted by phones, help with the flow of pedestrians.
Safety sometimes comes down to simple courtesy.
Pedestrian zombies
Smart phones have bred a population of pedestrians who show disregard for traffic and the impending danger.
'Pedestrian zombies' are well known right around the world, and they unfortunately are responsible for causing a lot of road trauma.Harold Scruby, CEO, Pedestrian Council of Australia
Existing laws relating to crossing the road while distracted are rarely enforced.
The Pedestrian Council of Australia would like to see the introduction of a national law that makes it an offence to cross the road while distracted, with the aim of changing behaviour and saving lives.
“If you're using any hand-held device, which a police officer could say was distracting you while you're crossing the road, we'd like to see a $200 penalty,” Mr Scruby says.
