Road Safety

Tips for pedestrians

It’s easy to become complacent about safety, especially on a familiar route such as on your way to or from work. Taking risks and not being mindful on the roads can have serious consequences. It’s important to Stop. Look. Think. Cross if safe.

Always use pedestrian crossings, it’s the safest way to cross the road. 

If there is no pedestrian crossing:

When there is no pedestrian crossing, use these tips to cross safely:

STOP

• Before you cross the road stop at a safe distance back from the kerb.

LOOK

• Look both ways for approaching vehicles before you cross the road. As you cross keep looking both ways and checking until safely across. Just because someone else decides to cross, doesn’t mean it’s safe for you.

THINK

• Is there a pedestrian crossing close by that you could use
• Think about whether it is a safe place to cross
• Never assume that an approaching vehicle can see you, or will stop for you – wait until all vehicles have passed before you consider stepping off the kerb
• Make sure you can clearly see vehicles coming from both directions and make sure drivers can also see you.

CROSS IF SAFE

• Remember to always choose a safe place to cross the road:
  • Avoid crossing between parked cars or at the front or back of buses and large vehicles
  • Avoid crossing at a crest of a hill or a bend in the road making it difficult to see approaching traffic and to be seen by drivers.
• Only cross if the road is clear of traffic.

TfNSW crash data shows that in the five (5) year period between January 2017 and December 2021, senior drivers/passenger road users were overrepresented with seven (7) fatalities within the City of Parramatta Council Local Government Area. This included five (5) motor vehicle driver fatalities in the 60+ age group and two (2) motor vehicle passenger fatalities in the 70+ age group.
In the same period, senior pedestrians were overrepresented with four (4) fatalities, with one (1) fatality was in the 60-69 age group and three (3) in the 70+ age group.

On the Road 65Plus

Whether you’re experiencing changes in your mobility or planning for the future, 
Transport for NSW’s On the road 65Plus will help you stay independent and safe. On the road 65Plus has advice and safety tips for people in our community aged 65 or over to help make safer choices when driving, riding, walking, using a mobility scooter or catching public transport.

TfNSW explain the NSW older driver licensing system, including information for those who want to transition from full-time driving to other transport options.

To find out more about On the Road 65+ go to TfNSW’s website

TfNSW crash data shows that in the five (5) year period between January 2017 and December 2021, motorcycle riders had the second highest fatalities of all road user groups with eight (8) fatalities within the City of Parramatta Council Local Government Area.

Reduce risks for a safer ride

Motorcycle riders are more exposed and risk serious injuries if they are in a crash. Improve your safety by visiting

• The MotoCAP website with product ratings to help choose the right helmets, jackets, pants and gloves for the best protection and comfort when your ride
• The Ride to Live website with hazard tests to check your responses to different risks, interactive maps of popular riding routes, and safe riding tips
• The Ride to Live campaign focusing on the risks that motorcyclists face on the road and how to best manage them

By choosing safer helmets and riding gear, motorcyclists can ensure they have the best protection. Riders should also:

• Be aware that Motorcycle lane filtering laws apply in NSW
• Read TfNSW’s safe riding tips to help avoid hazards

Younger and novice drivers face many challenges when learning the complex task of driving a vehicle. With their relative inexperience, they also face a higher risk of being involved in a crash.

Supervised driving

All learner drivers must be supervised by someone with a full (unrestricted) driver licence. Learner drivers can have their licence suspended if they drive unsupervised. Learner drivers under 25 years must complete 120 hours of supervised driving (including 20 hours at night).

Graduated licensing schemes are one of the most effective ways to reduce youth road trauma. These evidence based schemes help reduce the number of young drivers in crashes. They provide a staged approach to driver licensing and reduce the impact of risk taking behaviour associated with younger drivers.

What is the Graduated Licensing Scheme?

The Graduated Licensing Scheme (GLS) is the process you follow to go from your learner driver licence through to your full licence. Through three stages, experience, restrictions, conditions and tests, the GLS prepares new drivers to be safe and low risk drivers.

Licence conditions explains the NSW Graduated Licensing Scheme process, as well as some of the restrictions that apply to learner and P-plate drivers.

The Safer Drivers Course helps learner drivers identify risks on the roads. Speed management, hazard awareness and safe following distances are some of the strategies in the course’s theoretical and practical sessions, which earn learner drivers 20 hours of log-book credit.

 

Bicycle riding has increased in popularity, especially among recreational and commuter riders, as well as food delivery riders across metro areas. Bicycle riders have less protection and are at a significantly greater risk of death or serious injury if involved in a crash.

Staying Safe

Bicycle riders have the same rights and responsibilities as motorists, which is why it’s important that both motorists and bicycle riders look out for each other.

By understanding and following the road rules, bicycle riders can improve their safety as well as that of other road users. TfNSW tips for safe riding can also help bicycle riders better share the roads and avoid danger. It’s also important for drivers to understand how to share the road with bicycle riders to ensure everyone has a safe journey.

TfNSW Share the road campaign reminds motorists and bicycle riders of their mutual responsibilities when sharing the road and highlights how each group can help themselves and others stay safe.

Helmet STAR - Safety Testing and Assessment Ratings

In NSW, bicycle riders must wear an approved helmet that is correctly fitted and fastened. Helmet STAR can help you choose the safest helmet.

All bicycle helmets sold in Australia must comply with an approved Australian or overseas standard for bicycle helmets. Helmet STAR awards a star rating from 1 to 5 based on how well they protect a rider's head in a crash.

Helmets rated 5 stars are exceptional in crash protection and exceed the recognised helmet standard.

Helmets rated 1 star meet the crash protection required of a recognised standard.

Information on ratings and  safety ratings of helmets (by category) & FAQ can be found here
 

What is a shared path? 

A shared path is an area open to the public that is designated for the use of both 

bicycle riders and pedestrians.  Shared paths can be identified by signs and/or pavement markings showing a pedestrian and a bike.

A shared path ends at the nearest of the following signs:

Look out for each other

Shared paths are provided for the use of both bicycle riders and pedestrians (including riders of wheeled recreational devices and wheeled toys). There are some rules to follow and behaviours that will allow bicycle riders and pedestrians to stay safe and share the path.

Bicycle riders on shared paths

When riding on a shared path, the road rules require bicycle riders to:

• Keep to the left (unless it is impractical to do so)
• Give way to pedestrians including wheeled recreational devices/toys. You should always slow down, stopping if necessary to avoid a collision
• Keep to the left of any oncoming bicycle rider.

You can also make paths safer for everyone by:

• Providing pedestrians with a metre of space when passing
• Using your bell to warn others when you are approaching
• If there is room, moving off the path to the left if you wish to stop riding
• Being careful around young children and dogs, as they are often unpredictable in their movements, and older pedestrians who may be more vulnerable
• Travelling at a safe speed so you can stop within a safe distance of pedestrians on the path.

Pedestrians on shared paths

When walking on a shared path, to share the path safely, it is recommended that pedestrians:

• Keep to the left
• If there is room, move off to the path to the left if you wish to stop walking
• Keep animals on short leads and under control
• Be aware of bicycle riders sharing the path - to improve your safety we recommend riders use their bell to let you know they are approaching from the behind. We also recommend you focus on the path ahead when approaching corners.

Wheeled recreational devices on shared paths

A person using a wheeled recreational device or wheeled toy on a shared path is required to:

• Keep to the left (unless it is impractical to do so)
• Give way to all other pedestrians. You should always slow down, stopping if necessary to avoid a collision.

Bicycles that meet the requirements for permitted e-bikes can be used on public roads and road-related areas. Petrol-powered bicycles and other powered bicycles that do not meet the e-bike requirements outlined below are illegal and may only be used on private property.

Regulatory amendments occurred in February 2023 to enable the use of higher-powered electrically power-assisted bikes (e-bikes) to increase their permitted wattage to 500 watts (W) where the maximum continuous rated power cuts off when the device reaches a speed of 25km/h

For further information click on E-bikes and petrol-powered bicycles TfNSW 
 

From July 2022, electric scooter shared schemes are being trialled in NSW. Riders at trial locations will be allowed to hire and ride electric scooters (e-scooters). The trial is being evaluated and monitored by Transport for NSW.

Personal e-scooters remain illegal on NSW roads and road-related areas, including footpaths, shared paths and bicycle lanes. They can only be used on private property.

Infringements for illegal riding can only be enforced by NSW Police. Riders are expected to always obey the road rules. Reckless behaviour poses risks to the community. The public can report illegal riding behaviour via the Police Assistance Line (PAL) on ph 131 444 which operates 24hrs a day, 7 days a week.

 

A motorised wheelchair user is generally considered to be a pedestrian, and must comply with the NSW Road Rules that apply to pedestrians. To ensure motorised wheelchairs can mix safely with other pedestrians, they must meet the requirements of NSW Road Rules 2014.

Motorised wheelchairs are mobility aids with two or more wheels and have a top speed of 10km/h on level ground. Mobility scooters or 'gophers' are classified as motorised wheelchairs. A motorised wheelchair does not include a wheeled recreational device such as a motor scooter, pram, stroller, trolley or any other motor-assisted machine.

E-skateboards

Reforms to road transport law have been made to enable people with disability to use electric skateboards (e-skateboards) as a motorised mobility device. This change gives those with specific mobility needs greater choice in the type of device they use. 

For more information click on motorised wheelchairs or E-skateboards TfNSW