Rules for Pedestrians
Pedestrian deaths account for 1 in 5 deaths on our roads. This section covers the rules on walking along and crossing roads.
The most important rule for all pedestrians is to behave responsibly, exercise care and not endanger or inconvenience other users of the road.
Walking beside or along a road
- If there is a footpath you must use it.
- If there is no footpath, you must walk as near as possible to the right hand - side of the road (facing oncoming traffic).
- Do not walk more than two abreast. If the road is narrow or carries heavy traffic, you should walk in single file.
- You should always wear reflective clothing at night when walking outside built-up areas.
- You should always carry a torch when walking at night time.
Crossing the road
Follow the do’s and don’ts below to make sure you cross the road safely.
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Taking care near buses or trams
Take extra care if crossing a road where there is a bus lane (especially a contraflow bus lane), cycle lane or tram track. You should also be careful when getting on or off buses and when crossing the road at or near bus stops.
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Safe crossing places
Use the following places to cross the road safely.
Zebra crossing
This is marked by yellow flashing beacons. The actual crossing area is marked by black and white ‘zebra’ stripes.
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Drivers must stop to let you cross. As they approach the crossing, they should slow and be prepared to stop. They must stop behind the stop line if there is one and must not enter any part of the crossing.
Drivers must not overtake or park within areas covered by zig-zag markings on either side of the crossing. Section 10, on parking, has more information.
- You do not have the right-of-way over other traffic until you actually step onto the crossing. Never step onto the crossing if this would cause a driver to brake or swerve suddenly.
- You must not cross within the area marked by zig-zag white lines if these are provided on either side of a zebra crossing. If they are not provided, you must not cross within 15 metres of the crossing.
- If there is a central island, treat each side as a separate crossing.
- Always watch carefully for approaching traffic. Place one foot on the crossing to indicate that you wish to cross. Wait until traffic has stopped before you start crossing.
