With five people struck by cars in the last week – inlcuding one fatality - SA Police are urging pedestrians to consider their own safety, particularly with a large number of community events coming up over the next six weeks.
Superintendent Bob Gray, the officer in charge of Traffic Support Branch, said today that as vulnerable road users, pedestrians need to take a cautious approach to road safety in order to ensure their own wellbeing.
"While pedestrians generally come off worst in any collision, there is also a degree of trauma for all involved in a collision or near miss; the drivers, passengers or witnesses," he said.
"While we have not identified a common factor in the recent collisions, it is alarming that there have been so many in such a short space of time.
"As we come into the so-called 'Mad March' festival season, we know that this is a peak period for pedestrians not just in the Adelaide central business district, but at Fringe events statewide.
"We are urging motorists to be aware of vulnerable road users and pedestrians, and reminding those on foot that they have the same responsibility as other road users to obey the law.
"That means crossing the road safely, when the signal is green or at an official crossing point when within 20m of one."
Statistics show that almost half of all pedestrian collisions occur within 30 metres of a crossing.
If there are no crossings or signals, police remind pedestrians to cross where they have a good view of approaching traffic and where drivers can see you from both directions.
"If you cannot cross the road at one attempt, wait on the pedestrian refuge or median strip," Superintendent Gray said. "Those few extra seconds of being patient can make all the difference."
Pedestrian toll:
- Wednesday 30 January - three pedestrians were struck, an 84-year-old woman at Plympton, a 14-year-old boy at Elizabeth Grove and a 61-year-old man at Mansfield Park. All of these pedestrians remain in a serious condition in hospital.
- Sunday 27 January - a 71-year-old pedestrian was killed after he was struck by a car at Elizabeth East. While there was another serious injury crash at Enfield involving a 70-year-old woman who remains in a serious condition in hospital.
Penalties:
Most pedestrian offences carry an expiation of $49 plus a Victims of Crime Levy of $60.
Pedestrian offences:
A348 - Contravene road access sign (pedestrians)
A349 - Fail to cross road by shortest safe route
A350 - Stay on the road longer than necessary to cross the road
A351 - Start to cross before the pedestrian lights change to green
A352 - Stay on road longer than necessary when lights change
A353 - Start to cross before traffic lights change to green
A354 - Stay on road longer than necessary when lights change to red
A355 - Cross a road to get on a tram before tram has stopped
A356 - Fail to cross road by shortest safe route from tram
A357 - Stay on a road for longer than necessary to cross road safely from tram
A358 - Cross road within 20 metres of crossing
A359 - Stay on crossing longer than necessary to cross road safely
A360 - Fail to use pedestrian facility at level crossing
A361 - Cross level crossing within 20 metres of pedestrian facility
A362 - Pedestrian cross railway line or tram tracks at level crossing when a train or tram is approaching or is on or entering the crossing or when, red lights are flashing, bells ringing, a gate, boom or barrier is opening, closing or is closed
A363 - Pedestrian move into path of driver causing traffic hazard
A364 - Unreasonably obstruct path of driver or other pedestrian
A365 - Pedestrian fail to keep to side or face approaching traffic not in shared zone
A366 - Pedestrian fail to finish crossing the level crossing without delay if warning lights start flashing, bells ringing, a gate, boom or barrier starts to close or a train or tram approaches
A366 - Crossing pedestrian level crossing while there is a red pedestrian light
A366 - Fail to finish crossing pedestrian level crossing in accordance with Rule if red pedestrian light appears
A366 - Fail to keep out of path of bicycle/pedestrian on bike path
A366 - Crossing to or from tram stop other than at crossing for pedestrians if within 20 metres or crossing or if tram has stopped
A367 - Pedestrian fail to finish crossing the level crossing without delay if warning lights start flashing, bells ringing, a gate, boom or barrier starts to close or a train or tram approaches
A368 - Crossing pedestrian level crossing while there is a red pedestrian light
A369 - Fail to finish crossing pedestrian level crossing in accordance with Rule if red pedestrian light appears
