Places where pedestrians cross should align with Safe System principles. In general, safe system aligned measures for pedestrians either:
Austroads research[1] published in 2020 identified pedestrian facilities that are Safe System aligned (known as Primary Safe System interventions), and those that are not fully aligned with Safe System principles but can support or make incremental improvements to safety and/or mobility for pedestrians (known as Supporting Safe System interventions). The alignment of these measures for different movement and place street families is also provided.
Installing a crossing treatment can have safety benefits. Table 38 of the Crash Estimation Compendium provides common pedestrian crash reduction factors (CRFs) for various treatments.
Crash Estimation Compendium: New Zealand crash risk factors guideline
The table below summarises the crash reduction factors including combinations of elements. For combinations of elements, the highest crash reduction factor for each element has been applied in line with the Austroads Pedestrian Facility Selection Tool methodology.
Note: The CRF indicates the expected percentage reduction in crashes following the introduction of a treatment. CRFs for combined treatments are not necessarily cumulative.
Table: Urban pedestrian crash reduction factors for New Zealand
Treatment |
Crash reduction factor (CRF) |
Raised platform |
20% |
Kerb extension |
35% |
Pedestrian refuge |
15% if parking and 45% if no parking |
Kerb extension with pedestrian refuge |
45% |
Zebra |
0% |
Zebra with platform (raised zebra) |
20% |
Zebra with kerb extension |
35% |
Zebra with platform and kerb extension |
35% |
Zebra with pedestrian refuge |
15% if parking and 45% if no parking |
Zebra with kerb extensions and pedestrian refuge |
45% |
Signals |
45% |
Signals with kerb extensions |
45% |
Grade separation |
85% |
Source: Australasian Pedestrian Facility Selection Tool v2.2.0 User Guide(external link), Austroads, AP-R625-20.
[1] Corben, B. (2020). Integrating Safe System with Movement and Place for Vulnerable Road Users(external link), AP-R611-20, p14