New pedestrian road safety campaign launched
A new pedestrian safety campaign is launching in Sydney, Newcastle and Wollongong from today on radio, social and outdoor posters.
Peter Dunphy, Head of Transport Safety at Transport for NSW, said the campaign will initially run from 4 June until 30 June and reminds motorists and pedestrians to be aware of each other on the road.
"Pedestrians are some of our most vulnerable road users as they have no protection if they're involved in a crash, which is why awareness campaigns like this are so important,” Mr Dunphy said.
“Road trauma isn’t always the result of bad behaviour like speeding or drink driving, sometimes it’s a failure to simply take into account others on and around the road. The campaign highlights the unintentional misjudgements and assumptions that both pedestrians and drivers can make that place pedestrians at risk.
"If you’re driving, it’s really important you slow down and scan for pedestrians, particularly when approaching areas where there is likely to be a lot of people about, such as schools, shopping centres, town centres and sports fields.
"Pedestrians also need to do their part by crossing at the lights or pedestrian crossings if available, looking both ways before crossing, using safe places to cross, not running across the road or standing on cycleways and making sure they’re not distracted by phones or music,” Mr Dunphy said.
Transport for NSW's statistics show that for the five years between FY17-18 and FY21-22p, 253 pedestrians were killed, and 2,406 were hospitalised with serious injuries on NSW roads.
"It's important not to be complacent - as the new radio ad says, 'you can't know what others are thinking,'- as a pedestrian, never assume a driver has seen you, and as a driver, never assume a pedestrian will not step out onto the road,” Mr Dunphy said.
"All road users have a responsibility to make sure others make it home safely at the end of the day.
"I'm reminding everyone to be aware, cross - or drive - with care, the life that you save could be your own," Mr Dunphy said.
Campaign material can be downloaded here: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/gg56ost0co50i5k67fyjg/h?dl=0&rlkey=mja5ygpj6dlzp1bfpj68pqua3.