Crossing the road safely
Advice on how to stay safe as a pedestrian.
Stop, look, listen, think
Follow the safe road crossing procedure – stop, look, listen and think.
- Stop one step back from the kerb or shoulder of the road if there is no footpath.
- Look in all directions for approaching traffic.
- Listen in all directions for approaching traffic.
- Think about whether it is safe to cross the road – when the road is clear or all traffic has stopped.
When crossing, walk straight across the road. Keep looking and listening for traffic while crossing.
This information is particularly relevant to young people learning to cross roads but it's also a useful reminder to everyone particularly to those who may be distracted when crossing the road.
Rules for pedestrians crossing roads
| Types of crossing | Road rules |
|---|---|
| Children's crossings | Children's crossings are usually close to schools. They operate at the start and end of the school day. They are legally active only when the 'children's crossing' flags are displayed. If a school crossing supervisor is on duty, cross when they say it is safe. |
| Railway level crossings | Don't cross railway level crossings if:
Wait for the bells and lights to stop and the boom gates to be raised before crossing. |
| Signalised pedestrian crossing | A green man means you can cross, if it is safe to do so. A flashing red man means you can continue to cross but should not start crossing. A steady red man means do not start to cross. You must wait for the green man before beginning to cross. |
| Tram stops | To cross the road and board a tram:
When you get off the tram:
Wait for the tram to go before crossing the road to the other side. Don't walk around the front or rear of a tram to cross a road. Other road users cannot see you. |
Pedestrian community resources
We have developed a set of video and print resources to inform the community about pedestrian safety when crossing roads.
Fact sheets
- Pedestrians crossings with traffic lights (PDF)
- Crossing at intersections without traffic lights( PDF)
- Midblock crossings - choosing a safe place to cross (PDF)
- Using pedestrian crossings and children's crossings (PDF)
- Pedestrians and roundabouts (PDF)
Videos
We have five animations that explore different road crossing situations which can be incorporated into a community education session (with fact sheets on the same topics).