Road rules for pedestrians
The road isn’t only for motorists and cyclists - it’s for pedestrians too. As with cars, there are a number of rules, some better known than others, that govern how pedestrians use the road - as well as fines for breaking them.
Fatal crashes on NSW roads are up this year compared to the same period last year, as is the number of pedestrians killed. There have been 56 pedestrian fatalities so far this year. In the same period in 2008, 38 pedestrians were killed.
Part 14 of Road Rules 2008 covers pedestrians. Some of the key rules in this section are:
230 Crossing a road – general
- A pedestrian crossing a road:
(a) must cross by the shortest safe route, and
(b) must not stay on the road longer than necessary to cross the road safely.
Maximum penalty: 20 penalty units.
236 Pedestrians not to cause a traffic hazard or obstruction
- A pedestrian must not cause a traffic hazard by moving into the path of a driver.
Maximum penalty: 20 penalty units. - A pedestrian must not unreasonably obstruct the path of any driver or another pedestrian.
238 Pedestrians travelling along a road (except in or on a wheeled recreational device or toy)
- A pedestrian must not travel along a road if there is a footpath or nature strip adjacent to the road, unless it is impracticable to travel on the footpath or nature strip.
Read the full Rules for pedestrians.
Most of the Rules for pedestrians are taught to us as children. However, pedestrian deaths continue to be significant. As the road is a shared zone, it is important that all users respect and adhere to the rules to make it the safe place that it can be.
Has pedestrian education fallen by the wayside? Should the rules for pedestrians be better policed?
Related posts:
October 28th, 2009 at 12:07 pm
I am not surprised to read that pedestrian fatalities are on the increase – something urgently needs to be done to remove IPods from pedestrians as I have experienced one or two of them wearing these ear pieces walk out in front of me suddenly while driving in the Sydney suburbs. They really are breaking rule 236. Surely as a pedestrian you should use both eyes and ears when negotiating the roads – You now need to be more ever alert when driving just avoid these idiots who seem to forget where they are while listening to their favourite music.
October 29th, 2009 at 2:35 pm
Yes, some pedestrians are on a different planet from other road users – too busy texting, talking on the phone, etc. They cause hazard to themselves and to others. BUT, what about focussing also on motorists who run through red lights? There are more and more of those nowadays. They seem to think ‘amber’ means let’s speed up and ‘red’ means let’s go faster! Why aren’t police catching them? They are a serious hazard for pedestrians and other motorists who follow the road rules.
October 30th, 2009 at 4:53 pm
There’s an old saying: “A law which is not enforced is not a law at all”.
The only road law the NSW police are enforcing the is driving under the influence of alcohol one, with the occasional high-visibility RBT setup with all the pretty flashing red and blue lights. Speed ‘enforcement’ is done with fixed revenue cameras.
Apart from that, drivers are blatantly breaking all the rules without getting booked. The hoons are having a field day. Has anyone reading this seen a driver get booked for breaking the rules for roundabouts, or failing to use turn indicators, or for speeding in the last 10 years or so since the police were on the roads in force? I haven’t, and I drive a lot.
There’s no point discussing the rules as applied to pedestrians, because they are not enforced either. Apologies if I sound cynical.
November 15th, 2009 at 3:29 pm
The rule ‘wear light coloured clothing’ should be LEGISLATED. NRMA – where are you?
It should apply to users of bicycles, scooters & self-propelled wheelchairs? Otherwise we ALL suffer more: $$, pain, illness & death.
November 18th, 2009 at 2:56 pm
thats all very well.
but how many pedestrians are injured or hassled when walking on a footpath, which has enrty or exit form a carpark!
I understanf pedestrians have right of way!
The property owner should have stop signs all all exits crossing fotpaths.
November 20th, 2009 at 9:33 am
Jaywalking is commonplace in Sydney CBD; many pedestrians dart across or walk nonchalantly against the lights. Another gripe is I have had numerous times having to avoid pedestrians on CBD roads when riding my bicycle lawfully; some don’t seem to regard a bicycle as a vehicle.
Pedestrian rules definitely need to be better policed though hard in practice.
November 20th, 2009 at 2:52 pm
yes, pedestrians are silly, but I have to laugh at greg who states that certain clothing should be legislated. What a joke greg, are the fashion police or something??!!
November 28th, 2009 at 7:15 pm
pedestrian what can i say, more money is spent on pedestriant safety per year by approx 6 times the money spent improving road safety for motorcycles.
our childern are not taught to use pedestriant crossing due to crossing attendants, high schools are not much better as the students stuff traffic around every morning what do the police do just book drivers/ riders speeding/ parking the pedestriants no action taken what a joke
A director of NRMA suggest to turn on head lights proven world wide to have no impact on pedestriant safety only a safety factor for motorcycles
and by cars turning on head lights this will lessen the effect for motorcycles. look at the big picture
December 27th, 2009 at 10:29 am
the law states the pedestrians are to be given right of way whether they are on a marked crossing of not, you cannot just get into your car and mow down someone who chooses to travel by foot.
December 27th, 2009 at 10:32 am
to clarify if they jumped out infront of you on purpose and you couldn’t stop quickly enough then its their fault.
but if someone is walking through a carpark you can’t just come up behind them and run into them with your car, it bloody hurts
February 3rd, 2010 at 12:00 pm
I’m with Bob & Grant. It’s up to Driver’s to be alert and control their vehicles. Paper licenses, back in the early 1980s had written on the reverse side “Pedestrians have right of way”.
In terms of NRMA lobbying power, how about more pressure on NSW Govt regarding better public transport. This would positively effect both motorists and pedestrians.
February 3rd, 2010 at 12:39 pm
Pedestrians behave like lost sheep most of the time, well that’s my experience in the Chatswood CBD anyway, the funny thing is I see the local police break the law, pedestrian wise, every day, as they cross the road for breakfast, how can they apply the law to others when they obviously don’t know or care about them in the first place. If it’s not speeding or DUI they don’t care.
As for ST’s comments about red lights, climb out from under your rock and read the headlines, 50 speed/redlight cameras already and another 400 in the next 4 years, that’s being addressed, my only concern here is the shortened amber light time making it hard to stop in time or making some speed up to get through, sort of catch 22 and a cash cow for GovCo.
March 11th, 2010 at 10:42 am
Go stand on the corner of Liverpool and Castlereagh streets in the CBD and watch as dozens of pedestrians cross on the red light, regardless of whether traffic is approaching or not. Many stride onto the road whilst talking intently on their phone, and pay no attention to the traffic. The people that work in that area have a death wish. If a cop stood on that corner writing tickets for idiotic jaywalking, he’d make a fortune.
March 12th, 2010 at 6:32 am
Pedestrians, especially parents need education as to rules on jaywalking. I have seen parents with children walk against lights at intersections in Carlingford and Hornsby recently. This does not set the children a good example and definitely should be policed. There need to be consequences to breaking laws otherwise people tend to ignore them leading to people not having respect for the law. That is why we see motorists and pedestrians often doing crazy things on the roads and endangering us all.
March 15th, 2010 at 5:01 pm
The courts think its a joke, so how would you expect the police to respond, the pedestrians think its a joke and does not apply to them so I’m afraid you get what you deal up. Most ped. believe that they are resistant to motor vehicles anyway.
My policy whislt driving is I promise not to drive on the footpath provided the ped. promises not to walk on the roadway or out into my path.
March 16th, 2010 at 6:59 pm
Guess what!! No amount of legislation will stamp out stupidity!
Today, I had to brake hard to avoid a pedestrian who stepped out from the side of the road- she was so engrossed in a phone conversation that she was still looking down at her feet when I stopped right beside her. The look I got suggested that I should be swallowed up by a big pothole on the spot. (Plenty of those about, too!)
March 17th, 2010 at 11:35 am
Pedestrians – there are some rules and they are really formalisation of common sense and consideration for others. That’s all that is needed.
Forget the “heavy bit” about fines and the penalties – unnecessary – unless some-one or group wants to be deliberatley disruptive – then formal penalties are appropriate.
March 23rd, 2010 at 6:06 am
We all know that using mobile phones whilst driving is illegal, but I think we need to stop these careless idiots from listening to ipods when driving and walking the streets. I work in St Leonards and I see near misses every day,
Wake up people.
June 1st, 2010 at 11:02 pm
I agree with what Wayne from Tamworth says; “Guess what!! No amount of legislation will stamp out stupidity!”
I think this is very true. There will always be people who think that they don’t need to abide by the laws of the road and will just walk out into the road whenever they please until they eventually get run down and then try to sue the driver. It’s definitely a problem that needs addressing but when you have people who are simply ignoring laws and legislations, what can you do? It’s a tough one.
June 26th, 2010 at 1:36 pm
GUNDAGAI:
A resident has planted agapanthus width ways across a nature stip here obstructing safe pedestrian progress along that nature strip. Now there are 30 lumps of animal poo spread along the agapanthus where some leaves have come off due to pedestrians tripping on the agapanthus.
Are pedestrians to tread in the filthy poo and that will stop them walking along there?
I wrote to Gundagai Shire Council about the trip hazard and obstruction but they have failed to have the agapanthus removed. I just wrote another letter about all the poo heaped along there now but Council likely wont act re that either.
So much for safety in Gundagai and the Council has a history of poo across nature strips too when the main sewer lines flow down into the gutters at heavy rain. Amazing admin in this town.
The antics that go on in this town and how Council refuses to ensure pedestration safety on nauture strips is in my opinion, pretty disgusting given its thteir responsibility given nature strips are public land managed by local government. Then they claim they are due for constitutional recognition when they cannot even administer the basics.
JJones – Gundagai
June 28th, 2010 at 2:42 pm
I got a letter back from Gundagai Council. It effectively says it will not act re the onstruction width ways across the nature strip. I do not know yet what it thinks of the big lumps of animal faeces dumped in that same area where people walk. I left them two large photos of the filthy mess so I hope they appreciate them.
I rang Gundagai Police on receiving Council’s response, this morning and asked the Traffic Sgt, (Sgt Mould), where can pedestrians walk. He says Gundagai police will not act on anyone who is not obstructing traffic. That means that pedestrians can walk along the road even if there is a formed footpath and two nature strips in close proximity, to walk on.
The Local Misgovernment and Gundagai nonPolicing approach to road and pedestrian safety all sort of spits in the face of actual traffic and pedestrian safety – doesnt it.
Gundagai has a long bushranger history and nil changes.
Gundagai has a big dog tourism image so perhaps this placing filthy faeces along the nature strips is some new Gundagai tourist venture.
J.Jones – Gundagai
June 29th, 2010 at 5:35 am
Gundagai
It has in yesterday’s Gundagai paper that the North Star Service Station in Gundagai, (the only place left at North Gundagai where motorists can buy petrol), is going to stop selling petrol this Thursday. Its to do with the need to install leak sensors down in the ground to check that fuel isnt leaking into the water table and the way too high cost to do that – thus no more fuel will be sold.
That is good as the area near the North Star has been very dangerous for pedestrians heading easterwards along Sheridan St to the town shops with vehicles heading to the service station from Sheridan St cutting the corner to get into the North Star driveway and almost taking pedestrians with them.
Council was going to construct a pedestrian refuge in Otway St and had marked out where it was to go, but there was an objection so Council didn’t install that refuge, then there were several more near misses of pedestrians after. Its good that service station will no longer be selling fuel as that may make it safer for pedestrians. The North Star will still have its NRMA work. Petrol Stations are bettter off not right in the centre of towns anyway. North Gundagai once had 10 fuel outlets within a mile but will have nil so that is a vast improvement.
July 2nd, 2010 at 6:36 am
Well I have been removing some of the agapanthus planted on the nature strip at the Punch St access to 42 West Street, in a path width area, so I can safely walk along the nature strip there. On 30 June I noticed a vehicle following me, then yesterday I was accosted as I walked home from the shops by the co property owner who ran from his workplace and had a go at me. When I got to the 42 West St (Punch Street access), one klm away, he was there, replanting his plants and blocking my progress. I removed one of the newly planted agapanthus and walked through at which I got a heap more abuse yelled at me and he was still yelling when I wa ssome 200m away.
I have concerns for my safety re this person given he is so angry.
I have concerns for my safety re tripping on the agapanthus obstruction across the nature strip adjacent to his property.
The way I walk to the shops is the way I have walked all my life (I am nearly 60 and live where I grew up), and it is the only way from my home to get to the shops. I do not drive. I do not cross at the nearby intersection as it is where most crashes in this area happen. I cross mid street.
I rang the police when I got home yesterday and had a discussion with a senior constable. No one else in Gundgaai plants plants so that pedestrians cannot acess across the nature strips. This property owner tells me that Council own the land and claims that Council said he could plant the plants. He tells me he told Council no one walks through that area but someone was putting wooden barricades along the agapanthus to stop them being trodden on. Someone then replaced the wooden barriacdes with two large mounds of animal waste.
Gundagai Shire Council manage the nature strips in Gundagai under NSW Public Land Management legislation.
If this property owner wants to alientate the public land/nature strip near his property there is a process that needs to happen and it hasnt. If Council does assist this property owner to alienate the nature strip from public access in the future then that is something all Gundagai could do to the nature strips adjacent to theuir homes. Interesting concept for public land in NSW. Didn’t NSW sort that out in around 1850?
Whatever, I will continue to remove any agapanthus that baulk me safely progressing along the nature strip in this part of Gundagai as I need to be able to travel to the shops and elsewhere in this town. Agapanthus grow to quite a height and are bushy so they will very effectively block pedestrian access totally if these ones get much bigger.
Gundagai currently is trying to remove noxious plants. Agapanthus are spreading in bushland areas so quickly there are moves to make them a noxious plant. I have them planted at my property and am continually having to chop them back and may remove them totally now I am aware that they are invading other areas so effectively. They have small black seeds in them and the birds spread them.
July 20th, 2010 at 11:32 am
To Gundagai J Jones. Mate, I think you need to wake up and smell the roses!! Who cares about these useless plants??? Plus what does it have to do with this blog. Maybe you have been smelling too many of the chemicals the council have put on the plants!!!
August 11th, 2010 at 3:42 pm
Dear Mars – it is very to do with this blog as its about road rules and pedestrians. Nature strips are road related areas. Roads also include footpaths. These awful agapanthus were blocking the public place which is a nature strip, (also classified as a road as traffic travels along it and also a road related area), and preventing free movement of pedestrians along it. I’d not plant agapanthus there but do not object to them being there but some had to go. Its an offence under the summary offences act to prevent the free movment of people in public places which includes nature strips. Anyway, there is more. It had all settled down and the pathway I cleared of agapanthus remains and its safe to pedestrian through there again. Also, the mail delivery person can now again travel down there to deliver the mail as she always once could.
Someone must care about the plants as the NSW Police have issued a penalty notice re their removal? They want $220. I hear in Tumut they had a real go at some children whose pet died so they buried it then went and got some small stones to put on the grave to mark it out. They were in strife with the coppers re the small stones they removed from a public place. By the time pedestrians deal with some of the bizarre NSW policing, Shire Councils with their antics, and dangerous motorists and chemical heads – its an amazing world.
Of course the lies in the penalty notice will be disputed. Sending out penalty notices is one way to refill the empty NSW coffers though I suppose.
What pushed your buttons Mars? Chemicals? You do not have to read what I posted so just do not read it if you do not like it. If you do not want me posting content here well, get over it you silly person.
August 12th, 2010 at 12:29 pm
I just left a letter for Council informing them of this nsw police go at me that makes erroneous claims in it. Council will now have to maintain my nature strip. Its been me maintained it most of my 59 years apart from a few years when I lived elsewhere, but now if I mow it so pedestrians and the mail lady can safely travel along there or remove the kahaki weed or other stuff, then its just as likely a Tumut copper will issue a penalty notice. Its not my nature strip. Its a continuation of the public places (nature strips), that line the vehicle roads in this town that are where pedestrians are supposed to walk and they do when its safe for them to.
Gundagai Council is really big on encouraging walking in this part of town. My 4 street block is in line for a medium density listing in the new LEP and the agapanthus area is also an area slotted in by council where walking is encouraged. However, it seems it has to be unsafe walking in the public places as apparently its illegal to keep areas safe to a minimum standard for pedestrians.
August 17th, 2010 at 9:45 am
Tragedy near Conargo/Deniliquin (in the MIA/Riverina) at around 9pm last night.
Allegedly a pedestrian was walking along a road. A semi tralier swerved to miss him and did, and continued on. A Rodeo ute coming along behind the semi trailer hit the pedestrian. The pedestrian died.
Chief Inspector Michael Tranbie was just on ABC Radio Riverina talking about this matter and he emphasised and emphasised again, that pedestrians should not walk along roads, or along road verges but get right up off the roads (roads being the area that vehicles such as cars and trucks etc, travel along).
That is contrary to what Gundagai highway patrol Sergeant Darren Moulds told me on 29 June about pedestrians walking along roads in Gundagai that viz, “Gundagai police would not enforce it” it being the law that pedestrians not walk along roads.
That view was later contradicted by Snr Const Brasen of Tumut Police when she gave me a phone call back re my notification of stalking and harrassment over me removing agapanthus so I could safely walk through an area and not be forced into walking along the road.
I am wondering – small communities have Road Safety Committees. Police are on these Committees and so are Shire Council reps and road safety officers as well as others. Gundagai Shire Council supports a road safety officer that also works with Tumut Shire Council and Tumbarumba Shire Council. This committee and the road safety officer are Shire Council activities and fostered through regional organisations of councils which have been formed to prevent small council amalgamations. Gundagai Shire Council belongs to REROC and the idea for regional organisations of Councils originated in Gundagai and have now spread, statewide. Its a way for small shire councils to have more muscle while retainign their autonomy. These regional organisations of councils are in effeect, unions.
I wonder if area traffic police are being influenced in local areas via these road safety committees, to – in their local areas “not enforce it” it being the NSW Road Act and traffic rules for pedestrians.
Whatever, after last night a male is dead, and the man who ran into him allegedly is in shock and is also suspected of suffering a heart attack as a result of the accident. A family will deeply grieve their lost member and the unfortunate person who did run into a pedestrian who was walking along the road, will live with that forever.
It beats me how local coppers can alter legislated law. I know they have the power of discretion but this stuff is about road and human safety. Do coppers also allow speeds of up to 300klms an hour as in their local area they will not enforce the speeding rules? Where does that discretion start and end re road safety?
The area in Gundagai I am concerned about is acknowledged as being dangerous by Gundagai Shire Council as is my street at various times during the day but in Gundagai, pedestrians walking along roads will not be enforced.
I just wonder if the police in this Gundagai/Tumut/Tumbarumba area are having undue influence put on them in the Shire Council road safety committee to allow behaviour that is contrary to the law both in context and in action.
If Shire Councils can stop pedestrians walkign along nature strips or paths, no one then will fall and sue Council and if the area is not maintained or alienated by adjacent property owners, Councils get off scot free. Shire Councils whine that the State Governments are cost shifting but are Shire Coucnils responsibility shifting via road safety committees and road law not being enforced in local areas.
J.Jones
August 24th, 2010 at 5:40 pm
Don’t walk means exactly that you must not leave the kerb , 30 days solitary confinement on bread and water