Pedestrian safety treatments - Road Safety

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The government wants to make crossing the road safer and easier for people walking, while at the same time keep the traffic flowing as well as possible.

Different ways of doing this include:

traffic lights and pedestrian signals
walk buttons which make a noise (audio tactile push buttons)
pedestrian warning signs
pedestrian refuges and pedestrian walkthroughs.

New technologies are also being installed such as:

Ground Tactile Surface Indicators (TGSI)
Microwave detectors.

To decide if a site needs one of these or which of these is best, the site is inspected and the number of pedestrians and vehicles counted. The community may be consulted or can request this assessment – see end of fact sheet.

How do Traffic lights and pedestrian signals work?
Pedestrian crossings are considered when there are many pedestrians in the one area, when there is conflict between pedestrian and vehicle movements, or where the safest place to cross is unclear.

Adelaide’s Coordinated Traffic Signal system (ACTS) not only manages the flow of vehicles through traffic lights but also caters for pedestrians. On main roads in the city over 150 push button pedestrian crossings are connected to ACTS. This gives pedestrians time to cross the road safely once they have pushed the WALK button on the signal pole.

Drivers of turning vehicles are required to give way to pedestrians.

Never assume a driver has seen you. Make eye contact with them before and during your crossing.

How do the Walk Buttons (Audio Tactile pushbuttons) work?
These are basically a standard push button which provides two different noises and has a raised surface on the button.

Don't Walk is a beep every 2 seconds (so people can find the button)
Walk is an initial squeak followed by a rapid pulsing noise.
Wait before walking is the same as the Don't Walk noise.

These are designed to assist pedestrians with impaired vision or hearing to locate the pushbuttons and use the crossing safely. For more information, refer to People with disabilities.

Approximately 400 existing traffic signal and pedestrian crossings on city main roads have been upgraded with these push buttons. They are automatically installed at new traffic signals.

What are Pedestrian warning signs?
These signs show 2 people walking and are placed to warn drivers that pedestrians are likely to be crossing the road. They are usually installed where there are no push button crossings. They can be installed on the approaches to pedestrian refuges and pedestrian walkthroughs.

What are pedestrian refuges and pedestrian walkthroughs?
These may be installed at locations where push button signals are not warranted. A raised or painted median strip can be used as a refuge where pedestrians can stand safely in the middle of the road. To help pedestrians cross without having to step up and step down from a raised median, small sections can be cut out of the median and handrails added to create a walk-through. Walkthroughs also have ramps at the kerbs on both sides of the road to enable easy access.

These facilities help pedestrians cross one stream of traffic at a time when there are breaks in the traffic flow. They are particularly useful for people with impaired mobility and for elderly pedestrians. All new pedestrian refuges and walkthroughs are constructed with accessible kerb ramps, ground tactile surface indicators and handrails. Walk-throughs also have the benefit of allowing cyclists and people with prams, wheelchairs etc easy access through the median.

What are Ground Tactile Surface Indicators?
These provide information to the vision impaired through their sense of touch, either underfoot or via a walking cane. They alert people who are blind or vision impaired to obstacles or hazards. They are usually a different colour to the pavement and can be installed on traffic medians, traffic islands and kerb ramps at road crossings, with or without signals.

What are Microwave detectors?
Microwave detectors are active radar units installed on top of traffic signal posts to detect pedestrians walking across the pedestrian walkway. Elderly pedestrians or people with disabilities may find they only manage to get part of the way across the road during the Walk signal. These detectors track the pedestrian as they cross the road and either increase the time needed for them to cross or decrease it they have crossed quickly.

Fact file for 2003

Pedestrian Actuated [ push button] crossings installed =1
School Crossings installed = 1 Koala Crossing
Existing signalised sites upgraded with audio tactile pushbuttons = approx 36
Existing signalised sites upgraded = 16
Pedestrian refuges / walkthroughs installed =12
Microwave detection =12
Access upgrades = 5

Other Important Information
If you have concerns about pedestrian safety on footpaths or local roads please let your local Council know.

For concerns about pedestrian safety on main roads please contact Metropolitan Region Transport SA on 08 8226 8222.

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