Council urges – Look Out Before You Step Out

Inner West Council has launched a campaign aimed at improving pedestrian safety, in response to figures showing the inner west has a higher incidence of pedestrian casualties.

Recent data from Transport for NSW shows that in 2015, Inner West Council local government area percentage of casualties amongst pedestrians was 15%, compared to the Sydney region’s 8%.

As well, the inner west pedestrian casualties rate is rising. In 2015 it was 2% higher than in both 2014 and over the past five-year average.

Between 2011-15, on average 426 pedestrians were hit by vehicles on Council roads - 85 people each year.

The 30-39 age group represents the highest proportion (16%) of all these pedestrian casualties followed by the 70+ age group (15%). In both these groups, males were more likely to become a casualty.

Pedestrian fatal and serious injury crashes are more common in areas with higher pedestrian volumes - typically higher risk metropolitan roads.

A pedestrian hit by a car travelling at 50km/h is twice as likely to die as one hit by a car travelling at 40km/h.

Council is reminding everyone to take an extra moment to look out before stepping out, and always choose the safest place and time to cross.

Council is using bus shelter advertising, bin stickers, and road stencils to remind pedestrians to make safe decisions when crossing the road.

The safety messaging can be seen in high visibility locations in Enmore, Leichhardt, Marrickville, and Newtown.

Council also recently supported the 2017 Fourth United Nations Global Road Safety Week.

For a print quality image of the bus shelter ads or the road stencils, contact the Communication team.