SHARING THE ROAD WITH PEDESTRIANS

As a continuation of the article from Christina Paton, Grey Power would like to add the following information taken directly from the NZ Road Code.

On average, 36 pedestrians are killed and 1000 pedestrians are injured on New Zealand roads every year.

Pedestrian Crossings:

A pedestrian crossing is an area of the road that has white stripes marked across it. It is used by pedestrians and people using mobility devices, such as motorised wheelchairs and ‘walkers’, as well as skateboards and foot-propelled scooters.

Some crossings have raised islands in the middle where pedestrians can stop. These help pedestrians cross wide, 2-wayroads or multi-lane roads.

As you drive towards a pedestrian crossing you will see pedestrian crossing signs before the crossing and black & white poles at the crossing. The poles have fluorescent orange disks or round yellow lights that flash at night. White diamonds are generally painted on the road before the crossing and a white limit line shows you where to stop.

For drivers – when coming up to a pedestrian crossing; slow down and be ready to stop for any pedestrian on or stepping onto the crossing – this also includes people obviously waiting to cross. For pedestrians – if a vehicle is inside the diamond, the vehicle has the right of way. Outside the diamond you have the right to step onto the crossing but do so cautiously. If you cross between the diamond and the crossing, even if there are no vehicles approaching you can be ticketed and fined. The fine is $35.

Courtesy Crossings and Kea Crossings ARE NOT pedestrian crossings. A driver does not have to give way. Common courtesy suggests that they might, but they don’t have to. The pedestrian must give way to traffic.

So be cautious out there over the summer months. A lot of the drivers do not know the rules, or think that they don’t apply to them. It is often too late after you are knocked down.