‘Be Aware, Cross With Care’ Pedestrian Safety Campaign
Penrith City Council is supporting Transport for NSW’s (TfNSW) pedestrian safety campaign ‘Be aware, cross with care’ to help reduce serious injury and fatalities to pedestrians in St Marys Town Centre and across Penrith City.
The ‘Be aware, cross with care’ campaign encourages safer crossing behaviour by prompting pedestrians to stop, look, and assess before crossing, particularly in familiar environments.
Between 2019 and 2023 there were 105 pedestrian crashes in the Penrith Local Government Area, including 6 fatalities and 34 serious injuries.
Penrith Mayor Todd Carney said community safety is a priority for Council and the figures highlight the need for more education to make pedestrians and drivers more aware of their surroundings.
“With the increase in technology use like mobile phones and headphones, we are becoming less aware of our surroundings and are more distracted as pedestrians and drivers.
As part of the campaign, Council has installed 57 thermoplastic pavement stencils in St Marys at key pedestrian crossing points including intersections, signalised crossings, kerb ramps and pedestrian refuges.
“The stencils serve as visual cues to remind pedestrians to be alert and cautious before stepping onto the road,” Cr Carney said.
They also support the existing 40 km/h High Pedestrian Activity Area along Queen Street and streets connected to it, and are placed in locations with a history of pedestrian crashes.
“As pedestrians we need to be more aware; to always stay alert, avoid distractions and not assume that drivers will see us. And as drivers, we must consciously slow down and watch out for pedestrians in high traffic urban areas and remember that pedestrians are vulnerable road users,” Cr Carney said.
Council secured funding to install the thermoplastic stencils from TfNSW under the 2024-2025 Local Government Road Safety Behavioural Program.
For more information on pedestrian safety, visit: Staying safe as a pedestrian | Transport for NSW and Sharing the road | Transport for NSW
https://www.penrithcity.nsw.gov.au/news/1900-be-aware-cross-with-care-pedestrian-safety-campaign