• In 2020, 30 pedestrians were killed on our roads, this was down from the nine year high in 2019 of 49 deaths.
• In 2020, there were 17 pedestrian deaths in metropolitan Melbourne and 13 in regional Victoria.
• Of the pedestrian fatalities in 2019, 32 were on metropolitan and suburban Melbourne streets, and 30 were in speed zones 60 km/h or lower.
• If you’re hit by a vehicle travelling above 30km/h the risk of death or injury rises rapidly.
• Most pedestrian deaths occur at intersection where there are no traffic lights.
• Children are even more vulnerable in crashes, so they need to be supervised around roads at all times.

Did you know? People using motorised mobility scooters and electric wheelchairs are considered to be pedestrians too.

The majority of pedestrian deaths occur at busy intersections in built-up areas where there are no traffic lights. There are some simple steps you can take that could save your life:

• Make sure you're visible on the road - brighter clothing makes it easier for others to see you.
• When crossing the road, take the shortest, most direct route and use a designated pedestrian crossing wherever possible.
• Always obey traffic signals even when you're in a hurry.
• When crossing the road or getting off a tram, unplug your earphones and look up from mobile devices.

Keeping pedestrians safe while driving

• Drive at or below the speed limit, especially in built up areas.
• When you’re driving on residential streets or shopping areas watch for people crossing the road and children on bikes or scooters.
• Ensure you check your surroundings when reversing. Reversing cameras can be retrofitted to most vehicles, a camera will help you avoid collisions, particularly with children that may be below eye level
• Always look out for pedestrians at intersections and at pedestrian crossings. Some people may need more time to cross the road, especially older pedestrians.

We’re putting $100 million into separate paths and bike lanes for pedestrians and cyclists. People will also have more kerb outstands, mid-block refuges and raised pedestrian crossings when walking in busy areas. In areas like shopping centres and public transport hubs, we’re making efforts to calm down traffic to keep people safe.

We work closely with local government to support their efforts to improve pedestrian safety in their areas. Projects include trials to reduce speeds to 30kmh in built up areas and shopping districts and improving safety around schools.

Pedestrian projects and initiatives are supported through the TAC supports Local Government Grant program and the Community Road Safety Grant Program. These grants provide funding to support vulnerable road users (people walking, riding bicycles and motorcycle riders).

Find out more about our grant programs