Vehicle - Pedestrian
Pedestrians are vulnerable road users. In many countries, collisions with pedestrians are a leading cause of death and injury. In some countries, over half of all road deaths are caused by collisions between vehicles and pedestrians.
Collisions between pedestrians and vehicles occur in a number of situations, including:
- walking in to the path of a vehicle, especially while trying to cross the road
- walking along the roadside, or on the road
- playing or working on the road
- on driveways or footpaths
- while boarding or leaving public transport vehicles.
The severity of pedestrian crashes is strongly dependent on the speed of traffic. Research shows that the chances of a pedestrian surviving an impact with a motorised vehicle reduces dramatically above 30 km/h, and even at lower speeds than this, serious harm can be caused, especially to elderly or child pedestrians.
The risk of pedestrian injuries is increased by a number factors that relate to the road environment, including
- high speed of traffic
- inadequate crossing facilities
- lack of pedestrian crossing opportunities (gaps in passing traffic)
- number of lanes to cross
- complexity and unpredictability of traffic movements at intersection
- inadequate separation from traffic
- poor crossing sight distance.
- Safer Roads
- Estimated cost
- Casualty Reduction
- Pedestrian Crossing - Unsignalised
- Low
- 25-40%
- Central Hatching
- Low
- 10-25%
- Pedestrian Fencing
- Low
- 25-40%
- School Zones
- Low to medium
- 10-25%
- Sight Distance (obstruction removal)
- Low to medium
- 25-40%
- Parking Improvements
- Low to medium
- 10-25%
- Pedestrian Footpath
- Low to medium
- 40-60%
- Pedestrian Refuge Island
- Low to medium
- 25-40%
- Shoulder Sealing
- Medium
- 25-40%
- Speed Management
- Medium
- 25-40%
- Street Lighting
- Medium
- 10-25%
- Pedestrian Crossing - Signalised
- Medium
- 25-40%
- Traffic Calming
- Medium to high
- 25-40%
- Restrict/Combine Direct Access Points
- Medium to high
- 25-40%
- Service Road
- High
- 25-40%
- Pedestrian Crossing - Grade Separation
- High
- 60% or more
- Safer Vehicles
Safer Roads
- Safer Roads
- Estimated cost
- Casualty Reduction
- Pedestrian Crossing - Unsignalised
- Low
- 25-40%
- Central Hatching
- Low
- 10-25%
- Pedestrian Fencing
- Low
- 25-40%
- School Zones
- Low to medium
- 10-25%
- Sight Distance (obstruction removal)
- Low to medium
- 25-40%
- Parking Improvements
- Low to medium
- 10-25%
- Pedestrian Footpath
- Low to medium
- 40-60%
- Pedestrian Refuge Island
- Low to medium
- 25-40%
- Shoulder Sealing
- Medium
- 25-40%
- Speed Management
- Medium
- 25-40%
- Street Lighting
- Medium
- 10-25%
- Pedestrian Crossing - Signalised
- Medium
- 25-40%
- Traffic Calming
- Medium to high
- 25-40%
- Restrict/Combine Direct Access Points
- Medium to high
- 25-40%
- Service Road
- High
- 25-40%
- Pedestrian Crossing - Grade Separation
- High
- 60% or more
Safer Vehicles
- Safer Vehicles
Safer People
- Safer People
Did you know?
If properly designed, safety barriers reduce the severity of crashes involving ‘out of control' vehicles.
Latest Case Studies
See practical examples of how deaths and serious injuries have been prevented.