Watch out - pedestrians about
AAMI urges pedestrians and motorists to share responsibility for road safety
New research1 from leading national motor vehicle insurer AAMI has found Australian pedestrians continue to take dangerous risks on the road, with over two-thirds (67%) admitting to jaywalking.
Not surprising is that the research also found that over one-quarter (26%) of Australian drivers consider pedestrians to be a hazard when driving.
With 200 pedestrian fatalities recorded on Australian roads in 2009 alone2, AAMI spokesperson Mike Sopinski said the research highlights the need for pedestrians to share responsibility with motorists for their own safety on the road.
"Many pedestrians admit they are prepared to take risks when walking on or around roads and our research indicates they may be gambling with their safety by jaywalking," Mr Sopinski said.
"Increasingly pedestrians are also using technology like MP3 players and mobile phones to talk, text or listen to music while walking, and these distractions may mean they are not always paying close enough attention to their surroundings.
"This becomes even more important in a situation like crossing the road, where inattention could quickly result in a tragic accident."
While pedestrians do need to ensure they act responsibly, Mr Sopinski said it was also important for motorists to remember that pedestrians have just as much right to use the roads as vehicles.
"Alarmingly, half of the drivers surveyed (51%) said that pedestrians who engaged in dangerous activities like jaywalking, were to blame if they were hit by a car.
"Drivers need to be conscious of all road users - not just other cars," Mr Sopinski said.
"Pedestrians are one of the most vulnerable groups on Australian roads, as they have no protection if they are involved in a motor vehicle accident.
"Thankfully, the majority of drivers (93%) say they always look out for pedestrians when they are driving, while 95% say they drive more cautiously in areas with high pedestrian activity.
"AAMI is encouraging all pedestrians and drivers to take greater care whenever they are out on the road to help avoid accidents," Mr Sopinski said.
1 AAMI's research is based on an independent internet survey of 2,818 Australians, conducted by IPSOS Research across all states and territories. Collected data is carefully weighted in line with current ABS population demographics to ensure any extrapolation of results is representative of age, gender and population on a regional, state and national basis.
2 Australian Road Deaths Database, http://www.infrastructure.gov.au/roads/safety/road_fatality_statistics/fatal_road_crash_database.aspx, 25/05/10
