Road rules for pedestrians

Under the road rules pedestrians are people:

• on foot 
• on wheeled devices such as skateboards, rollerblades, wheelchairs and motorised mobility devices
• pushing a bicycle.

Rules for pedestrians

Pedestrians are not allowed to:

• cross the road if they are facing an amber or red traffic or pedestrian light 
• cross the road within 20 metres of a pedestrian crossing - they must use the crossing
• get out of a moving vehicle
• cross a railway level crossing when it is not allowed
• cause a traffic hazard by moving into the path of a driver
• walk along, or fail to give way when crossing, a path which is for bicycles and wheeled devices (a path showing a 'Bicycle lane' sign).

Pedestrians must:

• use the shortest or most direct way to cross a road 
• cross to the nearest edge of the road after getting off a tram
• obey traffic instructions from a police officer
• give way to vehicles at roundabouts unless provision is made for them. e.g. a zebra crossing
• obey a 'no pedestrian' sign.

If you need to walk along a road and there is no footpath or nature strip, or if there is but you can't use it, you may need to walk on the road. If so, you must walk on the other side of the road that faces oncoming traffic.

Penalties

There are penalties for pedestrians and other road users who break these rules. 

Rules for drivers and riders

Detailed below are the rules for drivers and riders about giving way to pedestrians.