Rule 72 of the Australian Road Rules states that a driver turning into a road must give way to any pedestrian at or near the intersection who is crossing the road the driver is entering. Unfortunately, this rule is neither well-known nor consistently obeyed. Just have a look at the video below.
So, what can be done about this?
There are two main schools of thought:
- Enhance Pedestrian Priority and Promote Awareness. Changes could be made to strengthen pedestrian priority at intersections, followed by widespread promotion and education campaigns to ensure the public understands these rules. This approach is explored in this excellent article and associated research.
- Implement Pedestrian Priority Crossings. Treatments such as wombat crossings (preferred) or zebra crossings at side roads could provide clear pedestrian priority.
While this approach is dismissed in the article above, it’s worth considering that rule changes and widespread public education may take decades – or may never happen. In the meantime, do we leave the confusion as is or address high-risk intersections with clear pedestrian crossing treatments?
The answer isn’t as simple as it seems. Practicality is key. Road authorities must balance what changes are feasible with the level of public education and behavioural change required. In some cases, an infrastructure-based solution (while not perfect) might be the safer and more achievable option.
What are your thoughts? Should we rely on education and awareness, or focus on infrastructure changes to make intersections safer for pedestrians? Let us know in the comments.
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