indi

Ok - we have all had a go at bad drivers and inconsiderate cyclists. It’s time to put pedestrians under the microscope.
In WA, where I learned to drive, when the green walk signal is on at the traffic lights all road traffic is stopped. This means that pedestrians can cross either road or walk diagonally across the intersection in safety. I always thought this was a pretty good system as pedestrian traffic never mingled with motor traffic. Here in Victoria the system is quite different, where the motor traffic must give way to pedestrians before turning. This system requires everybody to be extra vigilant at intersections and the necessity of everybody obeying the rules is paramount.
Pedestrians - A green walk signal means you may walk across the road. A flashing red signal means you may finish crossing the road but do not begin to cross. A red signal means do not enter the intersection!
I know this seems pretty basic but I can’t tell you how many times I have nearly hit a pedestrian who has dashed out into the intersection on a red signal. (and been yelled at and had my bonnet thumped for my trouble) A person who is moving quickly through the pedestrian traffic on the footpath is not always visible and it is immensely dangerous to run onto a road on a red signal. If the pedestrian is yakking away on their mobile phone, as is often the case, or listening to an ipod the danger of the situation is even more heightened.
In my experience, I have found that Victoria is the best state in which to be a pedestrian. In general drivers always give pedestrians right of way, which is how it should be. However, I think that pedestrians forget that road rules apply to them as well.
All road users whether they be motorists, cyclists or pedestrians need to obey the rules that have been put in place for the safety of all.