As everyday walkers, workers, students and people, we all find ourselves crossing paths during the busy hours of our life to get to our destination - workplaces, schools, homes just to name a few. Pedestrians especially children have been left vulnerable to errant vehicles. This is demonstrated through recent crashes at Riddells Creek Montessori Pre-School where a truck crashed into the school killing a speech pathologist who prevented the deaths of many students (ABC News). similar incident occurred at Auburn South Primary School where a driver believed to have been suffering from a medical episode crashed through the school’s fence killing an 11-year-old boy.( Magenis., et al) These events highlight the urgent need for planners, architects, designers, and builders to prioritise pedestrian safety in urban design. In Australia, there has been a 7.1% increase in pedestrian deaths, from 15 in 2023 to 167 in 2024. (The Guardian). This undoubtedly draws attention to the importance of pedestrian safety.
The Growing Threat: Larger Vehicles and Urban Challenges
Our roadways are shared with various modes of transport such as trucks, buses, trams, light rail, cars, motorcycles, bicycles, and electric scooters. Given this diversity, ensuring pedestrian safety becomes even more complex, necessitating comprehensive urban planning and design strategies.
There's a growing trend of larger vehicles like SUVs and Utes on the roads. Larger vehicles are perceived as safer by drivers, which influences their purchasing decisions. This perception can lead to riskier driving behaviours. While larger vehicles do offer more protection to their occupants in the event of a collision, they simultaneously increase the risks for occupants of smaller vehicles, as well as for pedestrians and cyclists. Studies have shown that heavier vehicles are associated with higher fatality risks in accidents. This is largely because larger vehicles, due to their size and weight, are capable of greater momentum and can cause more damage when involved in crashes. Furthermore, the elevated design of these vehicles creates more blind spots for the driver, making it harder to see smaller surrounding cars and cyclists. (Hagni & Ghaderi).
Designing for Safety: Strategies and Solutions
Ensuring pedestrian safety in urban environments is a multifaceted challenge that requires a combination of physical barriers, visibility enhancements, traffic calming measures, smart technology, and comprehensive urban planning. We will discuss various strategies and solutions to enhance pedestrian safety, providing valuable insights and takeaways for designers.
Physical Barriers and Seperation
In shared environments where pedestrians and vehicles coexist, implementing physical barriers such as traffic islands, refuge areas, and raised medians can create safe waiting zones for pedestrians, reducing their exposure to traffic. Bollards and delineators are also effective in guiding pedestrian movement and protecting designated pedestrian areas by preventing vehicles from encroaching into these zones. Designers should consider incorporating these elements to significantly enhance pedestrian safety in their projects.
Figure 1. Pedestrian safety bollards
Visibility and Sightlines
Enhancing visibility at intersections and crossings is crucial for pedestrian safety. Enforcing parking restrictions near these areas ensures unobstructed sightlines for both pedestrians and motorists. Ensuring drivers can see pedestrians about to cross the street plays a pivotal role in reducing accidents. Additionally, curb extensions can be installed to further improve pedestrian visibility. Designers must prioritize clear sightlines and appropriate enforcement measures to minimize accidents and enhance safety.
Traffic Calming and Speed Management
Implementing traffic calming measures, such as 40km/h zones in high pedestrian traffic areas, has proved effective in improving pedestrian safety. For example, in several major Australian cities, this measure has resulted in a 33% reduction incrashes causing serious injuries and fatalities. Chicanes are another tool to manage vehicle speed, compelling drivers to slow down as they approach pedestrian-heavy areas. Designers should incorporate these speed management techniques to protect pedestrians effectively.
Figure 2. Speed management chicane design
Smart Crossings and Technology Integration
Smart crossings equipped with motion sensors and LED lighting can greatly enhance pedestrian safety by detecting pedestrians and activating lights to alert drivers. Such systems reduce the risk of accidents in high foot traffic areas and promote attentive driving. In Sydney, pedestrian signals integrated into traffic lights, along with countdown timers, help pedestrians make safer crossing decisions. Designers should integrate smart technology into crossings to provide a safer environment for pedestrians.
Comprehensive Urban Planning
During urban development, grade separation is an effective strategy to ensure pedestrian safety by elevating walkways and positioning roads on a lower elevation. This prevents vehicles from encroaching on pedestrian pathways. Designers should consider incorporating grade separation in their urban plans to create safer, more pedestrian-friendly environments.
Strategies for Enhancing Pedestrian Safety in Urban Areas
Stop. Look. Listen. Think. This is what children are taught when learning about road safety. However, with the rise of electric vehicles, this phrase may need updating. Electric vehicles are significantly quieter than their gasoline counterparts, meaning pedestrians can no longer rely solely on their sense of hearing to detect oncoming traffic. This shift necessitates increased vigilance and adaptation to new forms of safety awareness.
To address this, urban planners and safety advocates must consider additional measures to enhance pedestrian safety. For example, implementing more visible and audible signals at crossings, educating the public about the silent nature of electric vehicles, and encouraging designers to incorporate more intuitive safety features into both vehicles and infrastructure. These steps can help ensure that pedestrians remain safe in an evolving transportation landscape.
In the modern urban landscape, the increased use of smartphones among pedestrians has become a significant concern. A recent study revealed that 34% of pedestrians are distracted by their phones while crossing the road, which substantially heightens the risk of accidents. To mitigate this hazard, it is imperative that pedestrians adopt safer practices, such as putting their phones away and paying full attention when navigating shared pathways and crossing streets. By fostering greater awareness and encouraging attentive behaviour, we can effectively reduce the likelihood of road incidents and enhance overall pedestrian safety. (The Digital Age and Road Safety ACL).
Conclusion
In conclusion, enhancing pedestrian safety in urban environments requires a multifaceted approach that includes speed management, visibility enhancements, technological integration, and comprehensive urban planning. As cities continue to grow and the nature of transportation evolves, proactive measures must be taken to adapt to these changes. By implementing innovative solutions such as 40km/h zones, chicanes, smart crossings, and grade separation, and by addressing the unique challenges posed by electric vehicles, we can create safer and more accessible urban spaces for all pedestrians. Ultimately, the collaboration between urban planners, safety advocates, and the public is essential in fostering a culture of safety and awareness that will protect pedestrians now and in the future.
References
- "Montessori Riddells Creek Preschool Crash." ABC News, 12 Nov. 2024, https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-11-12/montessori-riddells-creek-preschool-crash/104588460 Accessed 23 April. 2025.
- “Australia Road Toll 2024: 1300 Deaths, Highest in More Than a Decade.” The Guardian, 27 Jan. 2025. https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/jan/27/australia-road-toll-2024-1300-deaths-highest-in-more-than-a-decade Accessed 23 April. 2025.
- “The Digital Age and Road Safety." Accident Claims Lawyers, https://www.accidentclaimslawyers.com.au/the-digital-age-and-road-safety/ Accessed 23 April. 2025.
- M. Haghani and G. Hadhi., "Big Cars Feel Safer: How Vehicle Size Impacts Others in a Crash." UNSW Newsroom, June 2024, https://www.unsw.edu.au/newsroom/news/2024/06/big-cars-feel-safer-how-vehicle-size-impacts-others-crash Accessed 23 April. 2025.