Crossing the Road

Being unable to safely cross the road is one of the key reasons why people choose not to walk. 

All places where people want to cross roads should have crossings with ramps from the footpath to the road that can be used safely by wheelchair users and pram pushers. Some areas should have tactile plates (to indicate a crossing place to people with visual impairment) installed as well. 

There are a range of solutions that can be used to make it safer for people to cross the road:

• new intersection traffic lights (very expensive – more than $500,000 - and would require a high level of demand)
• a roundabout with zebra crossings (again, expensive - $200,000-300,000, and would only be done for a high level of demand)
• traffic-light controlled pedestrian crossings ($200,000-400,000)
• where there is a roundabout, install zebra crossings on all four corners (would cost up to $100,000, and would require fairly high demand)
• painting a bright yellow path across the road to remind drivers that there is a crossing. This is called a Walksafe treatment and costs around $20,000 per intersection (or $5000 per crossing)
• reducing traffic speed down to 40kph (would need to be assessed by VicRoads)
• Where pedestrian lights or traffic signals already exist, it can be possible to reduce the waiting time for people walking. This can be done in-house by VicRoads at little or no cost for newer traffic lights but may be more complex for older ones.  

The type of crossing needs to be appropriate for the size of the road and the amount of traffic at peak hours. 

Because of their cost and the fact that most people don’t like them it is now unusual to recommend over- or under-passes. Major roads now tend to have signalled crossings with traffic lights. On smaller roads (with peak hour flows of less than 500 vehicles per hour) zebra crossings are often sufficient.

On stretches of road where people cross at various places (such as retail strips), central medians can be installed. These can be islands or just painted “refuges”, especially where there are tram lines and the traffic is usually slow. Median islands are also useful at intersections to allow people to cross to the centre of the road and then wait for a safe crossing to the far side of the road. Medians also slow the speed of traffic, especially when making turns.

See above for more information on different crossing types.

Road crossings for people on foot are found at all traffic lights – but they can sometimes be slow to respond when you press the call button, and change quickly before you’ve finished crossing.

The time you wait is preset by VicRoads. If the wait is greater than about 60 seconds it should be reduced. VicRoads will need to approve this, but the change can be made at little or no cost. 

On wide roads, it can be difficult cross all the lanes in one traffic light cycle. Crossing times are usually 15-20 seconds but can be increased to up to 40 seconds in some places. 

It is possible to reprogram traffic lights so that people on foot always get the signal to cross whenever the traffic lights go green, or even get a signal to cross before the traffic lights go green. Reprogramming these controls cost in the order of $2000 per intersection.

 There are places people want to cross roads where the drivers can’t clearly see people walking clearly, and people walking can’t see vehicles – especially if the vehicles are turning left from behind the walker’s right shoulder.

If the poor visibility is caused by poles, signage or other street furniture it may be possible (although expensive) to move it. If a fence is too high it may be set back or lowered, and trees and shrubs can be pruned back to allow a better view.

“Blind” left-hand corners can be improved by slowing the traffic that is turning – by reducing the speed limit, extending the kerb partway into the intersection, or installing signs to remind both motorists and walkers to act safely.

Moving from the footpath to the road to cross can be tricky – especially if you are in a wheelchair or pushing a pram.

There should be an edge of no more than 2cm where the ramp from the footpath meets the road. They should not be too steep or slippery, and should point the walker in the direction of the ramp on the other side of the road.  

New ramps from the footpath to the road cost about $500-1000 each.

Central medians and pedestrian islands should be wide enough for at least a pram and carer to stand safely away from the traffic.  Where large number of people cross at peak times, the median should be able to hold a number of people in safety