News

Zombie pedestrians put own, other lives ‘at risk’

A WORRYING increase in “zombie-like behaviour” from pedestrians is so concerning that Minister for Transport and Roads Andrew Constance says it needs to end now before more lives are lost.

He said said the unnecessary risk taking is having fatal consequences.
“There are pedestrians crossing roads distracted, head down, looking at their phone. We have others running across roads in front of moving vehicles,” he said.
“The basic road sense we teach our kids is being discarded by adults through either impatience or complacency. I urge all pedestrians to keep your head up, obey the traffic lights and please look out before you step out.”
NSW Centre for Road Safety Executive Director Bernard Carlon said preliminary data shows 86 per cent of pedestrians killed or injured in crashes last year were aged 18 or over.
“Reducing pedestrian fatalities is a serious focus of our Towards Zero strategy. While we are seeing improvements, we need all pedestrians to be safer, especially around busy roads where heavy vehicles like buses operate,” Mr Carlon said.
This year’s statewide pedestrian road toll currently sits at 38, with three of these fatalities involving a bus.
State Transit CEO Steffen Faurby said pedestrian crashes have a significant emotional impact on bus drivers.
“The last thing a bus driver wants is to be involved in an incident with any road user. A standard 12.5 metre-long bus can weigh up to 18 tonnes, and while they are operated by professional drivers these vehicles cannot stop easily or quickly.”