Police are pleading for residents to take extra care when crossing roads following an alarming spike in the number of pedestrian deaths this year, including several in our region.
There have been 38 pedestrians killed on the State’s roads so far in 2012 — that’s 18 more than the same period last year.
Only two weeks ago police charged a female driver in relation to the tragic hit-run death of a pedestrian in Port Macquarie.
About 6.20pm on Wednesday, June 20, a 48-year-old woman was struck by a vehicle on Hill Street.
The alleged “green coloured” car involved did not stop after the collision and the woman was left with fatal injuries.
She died at the scene.
As just one example, Acting Traffic and Highway Patrol Commander, Acting Assistant Commissioner Stuart Smith, is urging pedestrians to be extra vigilant when crossing roads.
“We’re constantly calling on road users, including pedestrians, to exercise caution; however, it seems those calls are falling on deaf ears,” Acting Assistant Commissioner Smith said.
“The loss of 38 pedestrian lives is tragic and heart breaking for their families and friends, especially when their deaths could easily have been avoided.
“The pedestrian road toll is almost double what it was for the same period last year,” he said. “Disturbingly, it seems our safety messages are being ignored.”
All road users — drivers, passengers, motorcyclists, cyclists and pedestrians — are being urged to go back to basics in road safety.
“Not only do we need to look out for each other, we need to look out for ourselves,” Assistant Commissioner Smith said.
“By practising good driver and rider behaviour, you can reduce the risk of causing a collision and, as a pedestrian, if you pay attention and abide by the traffic signals and road rules, you have a better chance of making it across the road safely.”
In addition, pedestrians are again being cautioned against the use of mobile phones and digital media players, like iPods, when crossing the road.
“These devices pose a significant safety risk as they distract pedestrians from what’s going on around them,” he warned. “If they are talking on the phone, sending an SMS or listening to music, they might not see a vehicle coming towards them or hear the sound of a car horn.
“My message to pedestrians is clear: Pay attention when crossing the road.
“We teach our children to look right, look left and look right again before crossing the road — but for some reason we don’t practise what we preach.
“Pedestrians need to take extra responsibility for their own safety by crossing at traffic lights or marked crossings, obeying the road rules and being aware of their surroundings.
“Extra care should be exercised in areas of high vehicular and pedestrian traffic — such as in and around schools, public transport interchanges and shopping precincts,” Acting Assistant Commissioner Smith said.
