Stop, Look, Listen, Think

To be a safe pedestrian, use your eyes, ears, judgement and common sense.

Follow the safe road crossing procedure – STOP, LOOK, LISTEN and THINK: 

• STOP one step back from the kerb or shoulder of the road if there is no footpath. 
• LOOK in all directions for approaching traffic. 
• LISTEN in all directions for approaching traffic. 
• THINK about whether it is safe to cross the road – when the road is clear or all traffic has stopped. 
• When crossing, walk straight across the road. Keep LOOKING and LISTENING for traffic while crossing.

This information is particularly relevant to young people learning to cross roads. But it also provides a useful reminder particularly to those who may be distracted by mobile phones and MP3 players when crossing the road.


Pedestrian facts and figures

The following facts are based on police reported crash data (2006-2010).

Fatalities and serious injuries
Over the last five years on average:

• 48 pedestrians were killed in Victoria each year.
• More than 690 pedestrians were seriously injured in Victoria each year.

Males and females
More males than females are involved in fatal and serious injury pedestrian crashes.

• 56% were male pedestrians killed and seriously injured.
• 43% were female pedestrians killed and seriously injured.

Age groups
Pedestrians most likely to be involved in police reported serious or fatal crashes were aged:

• 18-24 – 16%
• 75 years and over – 13%
• 0-14 years – 11%

Time of week

• 75% of crashes occurred during the week.
• 25% of crashes occurred during the weekend.

Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC)
Each year about 15 of the pedestrians killed had a blood alcohol level of 0.05 or more, with a majority of these being more than 0.15 BAC which is more than three times above the legal driving limit.

The following section refers to data based on a report by the George Institute for International Health which investigated police reported data, emergency department and hospital admission data, and coroner reported fatalities between 2004 and 2010, titled Factors in Pedestrian Crashes in Victoria 2004-2008.

The majority of police reported crashes which occurred on 40-60km/h speed limit roads.

Types of fatalities and serious injuries

• 67% per cent of fatal and serious injury occurred when the pedestrian was crossing the road. 
• 68% of these occurred in the absence of a traffic signal.
• 34% occurred when the pedestrian was crossing on the near side. 
• 25% occurred when the pedestrian was crossing on the far side. 
• 8% of crashes occurred when pedestrians emerged from behind a vehicle. This was much higher for younger pedestrians, (18% for children aged 0-4 years). 
• 5% of all pedestrian crashes involved a heavy vehicle. 18% of fatal crashes involved a heavy vehicle.