Pedestrian safety issues for Victoria

This study has attempted to identify and develop a wide range of potential countermeasures for targeted application to common pedestrian crash problem types. Recognising that few proven pedestrian safety strategies and countermeasures exist, this project, while setting out to achieve specific objectives, also endeavoured to be innovative in generating possible solutions to Melbourne's long-standing pedestrian crash problems along arterial roads. In particular, because conventional approaches appear relatively ineffective, countermeasure options have intentionally not been constrained by traditional views and established practices for managing traffic, for providing public transport services and for land use development along Melbourne's arterial roads. The project aimed to systematically investigate locations and location types with clustering of pedestrian crashes over several years, to identify crash countermeasures and to recommend which countermeasures have the potential for widespread application to other locations with like problems. Countermeasure options were identified and, in the case of road and traffic engineering-based measures, were evaluated in terms of their estimated economic worth. Overall, economic benefits were estimated to be well in excess of costs and readily attainable along many of Melbourne's arterial roads. Actions recommended to improve pedestrian safety include treating the locations investigated as part of this project and developing a program for implementing generic countermeasures. Specifically, high priority should be given to developing, implementing and evaluating generic countermeasures for high pedestrian activity arterial roads. Proposed countermeasures aim to reduce vehicle speeds and road widths, provide medians, especially along Melbourne's arterial tram routes; increase pavement skid resistance; improve pedestrian level-of-service at traffic signals; use fencing or other barrier types to guide pedestrians; change driver and pedestrian behaviour through targeted, high-profile publicity programs and/or using public transport vehicles and passenger stops; provide safer interaction between pedestrians/passengers and public transport services; target police enforcement at risky behaviours, and develop local government pedestrian safety and land use planning strategies for high risk areas, with new and existing developments being subject to "safety impact assessments/statements". It is concluded that, unless there is a willingness and commitment by society and responsible agencies to accepting some loss of traffic capacity and speed of vehicle movement, which may actually be marginal only and be largely confined to non-peak periods, only minor improvements to pedestrian safety can be expected.