Thinking of pedestrian safety during
your road safety inspections
Objectives
To outline some of the special safety needs of
pedestrians - for you to keep in mind when doing
a road safety inspection
Why should you be concerned with pedestrian
safety?
IF YOU DO NOT LIKE CRASHES, TURN AWAY
NOW.........
What is a Pedestrian?
1. A person on foot (including a person in control of a
vehicle other than a motor vehicle), on or in a toy
vehicle or in a pram; or
2. An injured or disabled person in
A non-motorised wheelchair; or
A motorised wheelchair not capable of a speed of
more than 10 kilometres an hour
Why do pedestrians use the road?
They walk along, and cross over the
road
They also play on the road, wait for
buses, socialise, sell goods, work and
more
They also play on the road, wait for
buses, socialise, sell goods, work and
more
They also play on the road, wait for
buses, socialise, sell goods, work and
more
Why should you be concerned with pedestrian
safety?
IF YOU DO NOT LIKE CRASHES, TURN AWAY
NOW.........
Why should you be concerned with pedestrian safety?
Pedestrians are the largest group of road users
No licence needed
Very mobile
All ages
Very vulnerable - serious injuries
About 15% in Victoria (Australia)
About 26% in China (about 15,000 per year)
? in Saudi Arabia
About 350,000+ dead worldwide per annum
As a road safety inspector …………
Always visit the site, and make sure you put yourself in the shoes
of the pedestrian!
Is there a complete “path” for the pedestrians
Is the path obvious? Continuous?
Do signals provide for pedestrians? Disabled?
Are islands large enough to store pedestrians?
Look beyond – be consistent along a route and don’t mislead any
group of road users.
Pedestrians were here first – before the motor
vehicle
Pedestrians were here first – before the motor
vehicle
Why should we be concerned for pedestrian safety?
If you and your
organisation doesn’t
look after pedestrian
safety - who will?
Pedestrians come in all shapes, sizes, races, ages and types
Pedestrians come in all shapes, sizes, races, ages and types
Pedestrians come in all shapes, sizes, races, ages and types
Pedestrians come in all shapes, sizes, races, ages and types
Pedestrians come in all shapes, sizes, races, ages and
types
Pedestrians come in all shapes, sizes, races, ages and
types
Pedestrians come in all shapes, sizes, races, ages and types
As a road safety inspector………
Always visit the site, and make sure you put yourself in the
shoes of the pedestrian!
Check that there is a complete “path” for the pedestrians
Is their path obvious? Continuous?
Do the signals provide for pedestrians? Disabled?
Are islands large enough to store pedestrians?
Look beyond the scheme; seek consistency along a route
– don’t mislead any group of road users.
Pedestrians were here first – before the motor vehicle
If you and your
organisation doesn’t
look after pedestrian
safety in your Province -
who will?
You need to think of all groups of pedestrians – but there are THREE
groups at greatest risk……
33
3
• SENIOR CITIZENS - 19% of
fatalities are over 65 years
• YOUNG - 20% of fatalities
Three groups of are aged 4-12 years
pedestrians
most at risk: • INTOXICATED - 43% of
night time fatalities ≥
0.15% BAC.
• Plus the disabled
SENIORS - 19%
of road fatalities
aged over 65
years of age are
pedestrians
YOUNG - 20%
of road fatalities
are aged 4-12
years are
pedestrians
(3 times the limit for
drivers in Australia)
Intoxicated - 43% of adult
male pedestrian fatalities ≥
0.15% BAC in the state of
Victoria
How safe
are the
disabled in
your city?
There are three basic pedestrian
strategies…
33
3
1. SEGREGATION – freeways, malls
2. SEPARATION – in time or in space
3. INTEGRATION – vehicles and pedestrians “share” the road
Segregation – expressways
Segregation – malls/ shared zones
Crossing the road
Is a crossing needed?
What type of crossing?
Will it be used correctly?
Will Police enforce it?
Will a crossing actually increase the risk for the
pedestrians?
Sometimes – its better to not put in something.
A refuge may work well and be safer……
Separation – In Time
Separation – In Time
Use pedestrian push buttons to allow
pedestrians to call up their phase
Use pedestrian push buttons to allow
pedestrians to call up their phase
Separation – In Time
Separation – In Time
Why do we install such crossings where
they are not obeyed?
What other types of “time separation” pedestrian
facilities can you think of ?
Do you have any in Saudi Arabia?
How safe are they?
Pelican Crossings
What is a Pelican Crossing?
WHEN
Do you have any? FLASHING GIVE
WAY TO
PEDESTRIANS
Puffin Crossings
Toucan Crossings
Separation – in Space
Separation – in space
Separation in space (grade separation)
Most pedestrians dislike grade separation – unless it saves
them time/distance.
If grade separation is a possibility, or essential, people usually
prefer an overpass. If you must have a subway, encourage one
that has a straight through view – for personnel safety
Separation – in Space
Separation – in Space
Separation – in Space
Separation in space - but how will
disabled people use this overpass?
Separation – in Space
Separation – in space
Separation – in space
Separation – in Space
Separation – in Space
Integration – where vehicles and pedestrians “share” the road
Maybe this could become a “Shared Zone”
Signalised intersections offer scope to
assist pedestrians
Signal hardware
• Provide pedestrian displays
• Provide pedestrian push buttons – so they can call up their phase even with no
motor vehicles present
• Ensure all conflicting drivers CAN see the pedestrians (clear obstructions)
Signal phasing and software
• Generally run pedestrians with parallel traffic
• Consider an early start for the peds if there is a lot of turning traffic
• Audio-tactile devices are now common and benefit pedestrians with
disabilities
Civil works
• Dropped kerbs and DDA tiles
• Obvious and clear pedestrian paths
• All-weather footpaths leading to/from the intersection
• Street lighting
• No obstructions along footpaths
Signalised intersections offer much scope
to assist pedestrians
WHAT IS ROAD SAFETY ENGINEERING?
Too wide
Large radius
No drop kerbs
Many blockages
RT on red!
WHAT IS ROAD SAFETY ENGINEERING?
WHAT IS ROAD SAFETY ENGINEERING?
What can you do in your inspection work?
Demand responses to all RSI
recommendations in RSI reports
Use more push button pedestrian
signals in your cities
Introduce PUFFIN crossings (become
a national leader)
Set a high standard for signalised
intersections.
Ensure all are provided with
pedestrian signals
Increase the pedestrian clearance
times at all intersection signals – base
it on the width of the road
Pedestrians – are vulnerable; they deserve your attention to
their safety during all your road safety inspections
