On average, 36 pedestrians are killed and 1000 pedestrians are injured on New Zealand roads every year.
Many of these deaths and injuries could be prevented if drivers took more care when using our roads.
Please look out for pedestrians whenever you’re behind the wheel.
A pedestrian crossing is an area of road that has white stripes marked across it. It is used by pedestrians and people using mobility devices (such as motorised wheelchairs and similar devices) and wheeled recreational vehicles (such as skateboards and foot-propelled scooters).
ImportantNever overtake a vehicle that is slowing down for a pedestrian crossing or has stopped to let someone cross. |
Some crossings have raised islands in the middle, creating a ‘refuge’ where pedestrians can stop. These are helpful for pedestrians crossing wide, two-way roads or multi-lane roads, because they allow them to walk across one direction of traffic at a time.
As you drive towards a pedestrian crossing, you will see pedestrian crossing signs before the crossing and black and white poles at the crossing. The poles are mounted with fluorescent orange disks, or round yellow lights that flash at night. White diamonds are generally painted on the road before the crossing and a white limit line shows you where to stop.
When coming up to pedestrian crossings:
If you find yourself in a queue of traffic near a pedestrian crossing, don’t move onto the crossing if there isn’t enough room for your vehicle on the other side of the crossing.
Courtesy crossings are usually made of bricks or paving and are often raised above the level of the road.
Although not official pedestrian crossings, they do provide a place for pedestrians to cross. Drivers should be courteous to pedestrians using a courtesy crossing.
This is a road that has been designed to slow traffic and give priority to pedestrians. Drivers give way to pedestrians who, in turn, should not impede traffic.
School crossings, also known as kea crossings, provide a safe place for children to cross the road. They generally only operate before and after school.
When school crossings are operating, a fluorescent orange Children sign will be displayed, along with a School Patrol Stop sign, which swings out into the road.
When the School Patrol Stop sign is out, vehicles coming from both directions must stop and stay stopped until all signs have been pulled in.
Keep a lookout for children at all times. Take special care when driving during 8–9am and 3–4pm, when children are travelling to and from school.
People who are blind or vision-impaired often use aids such as a white cane or a guide dog. When drivers see people with these aids trying to cross the road, they should take extra care and let them cross in their own time.
When you are entering or leaving a driveway that crosses a footpath, you must give way to people using the footpath.