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.