Comments on: Road rules for pedestrians

By: Skweekah

Skweekah — Sun, 13 Nov 2011 22:35:50 +0000

Only this morning did I get dirty looks from a middle aged asian woman whom I passed in front of. Not sure if the rules have been muddled or misunderstood but when I was growing up, pedestrians gave way to cars where there is no designated crossing.

By: pat

pat — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 05:35:18 +0000

Sorry Jane, you are completely wrong on that. If that is the advice the NRMA is giving out, no wonder drivers are confused.

Vehicles driving in or out of private property or a road related area must give way to pedestrians on the footpath. It is always best however to be cautious and make sure you make eye contact with the driver.

source: http://www.dtei.sa.gov.au/roadsafety/safe_road_users/pedestrians

By: Jane @ NRMA

Jane @ NRMA — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 00:59:51 +0000

Hi Val, yes it is correct – even in WA. A pedestrian should give way to vehicles entering a driveway.
Cheers, Jane

By: Val

Val — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 08:49:15 +0000

When walking along a main road with businesses on both sides with their own carparks I was blasted by a horn for not giving way to a motorist entering from behind me into a business’s carpark, who yelled at me to look before crossing the driveway. I thought I had the right of way, I was on the verge, not in the actual roadway. I was walking along occasionally looking behind me for a clear road so I could cross over to where there was a pathway. I was told that even had there been a pathway I should still look both ways before crossing any driveway. This also applies when walking along suburban streets. I have never been aware of this ruling!! Is it correct. I live in WA

By: Richard Plater

Richard Plater — Sat, 08 Oct 2011 23:07:24 +0000

Dear “J.Jones”
The property owner should have had the police charge you with criminal damage. What you are doing is vandalism! My old mum loved agapanthus!

By: Mai

Mai — Wed, 09 Mar 2011 00:06:43 +0000

I sympathise with C.Jones. The agapanthus-lover sounds like a greedy pig who wants to take over public space by blocking if off to people walking past his place.
Gunnedah Council administration is one of these: stupid, lazy or in the pocket of this greedy pig.
Surely there is one councillor you could contact who would listen to your story, come out and inspect the situation, and raise the matter in Council meetings? You can google for a list of councillors and their contact details.

By: Graham

Graham — Thu, 24 Feb 2011 13:19:55 +0000

for a few months now I have been troubled that increasing numbers of pedestrians
think they have the right to walk when and where they want
without regard to the sight stopping distance of approaching vehicles.

There needs to be a media campaign which:
explains these rules
explains the benefits of using crossings and green walk signs at lights
explains the need to be sure that drivers see pedestrians – it would help if pedestrians looked at drivers to ensure they are seen

not to just walk out onto a crossing – stop and check that the road is clear
or that approaching vehicles are going to stop
and give drivers time to stop

Policing is needed

By: jake

jake — Mon, 08 Nov 2010 07:03:36 +0000

i tink if jones is continually go on & on about his town and is shire he should mayby consider to go move some where else where there wost be horse dung and Agapanthus plants and jay walkers and junk like that this is about pedestrians not all of the above

By: Rod

Rod — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 07:40:44 +0000

Don’t walk means exactly that you must not leave the kerb , 30 days solitary confinement on bread and water

By: J.Jones

J.Jones — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 23:45:40 +0000

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