This year has seen a drastic rise in pedestrian deaths in Adelaide with a worrying change of 160 percent of the five-year average based on crash data by Royal Automobile Association (RAA). Metro Adelaide has so far claimed thirteen pedestrians which can be said to be a national tendency, that records a 27 percent increase in pedestrian fatalities in the entire of Australia. This spurt adds to the highest road fatality count in any 12 month span in 15 years. This alarming rate of growth is an emergency that should compel all road users to be more aware about road safety especially when large masses of people are meant to gather in the city centres through major events.
Pedestrian Deaths in Adelaide and Australia
| Metric | Adelaide | Australia (12 months) |
|---|---|---|
| Increase in pedestrian deaths | 160% | 27% |
| Pedestrian deaths this year | 13 | Highest in 15 years |
| Expected event crowd size | 54,000+ | N/A |
Security Issues in the Face of More Pedestrians.
The weakness of pedestrians has also been pointed out by the Senior Manager of Road Safety at the RAA and warning given before high attendance events like the AFL game between the Crows and Collingwood, which is set to draw over 54,000 people at the Adelaide Oval. The pedestrian flows result in problematic situations of both pedestrians and motorists. Mountain emphasizes that road users should be cautious and tolerant around road closures and areas of heavy traffic, which are usually occasioned by events. On the pedestrian part, crossing roads with crossing points and not being distracted using mobile phone are important safety measures.
Important Road Safety recommendations.
Safety warnings aimed at preventing the increase in the number of pedestrian fatalities are based on shared responsibility: drivers ought to slow down, keep safe following distances, and be patient in traffic jams. It is advisable that pedestrians should not maneuver between traffic or at dangerous crossing points whereby the traffic might not notice them. The RAA promotes the use of free transport services offered by the government when organizing major events to decrease traffic jams and exposing the vulnerable users of the roads. Also, passengers on interstate routes going to or coming back to sporting finals are advised to make rest and safe driving habits a priority, as they can help avoid fatigue-related accidents.
Learning the Reasons and Mitigating the Dangers.
The causes of the surge in pedestrian fatalities are that the pedestrians have a higher movement, there is more distraction among the drivers and the crossing behaviors are risky. The congestion caused by traffic around the venue areas of the events creates more problems to the road users. Increasing efforts to inform the population about the hazards, but also improving infrastructure like lighting and pedestrian signage, would contribute to the decrease of the incidents. The RAA still recommends combined strategies to pedestrian safety where community awareness and enforcement play a key role in protecting such a vulnerable group.
FAQs
Q1: Why have the number of pedestrian fatalities risen so dramatically in the year 2013 in Adelaide?
A1: It is explained by the fact that there is more pedestrian traffic during events, driver distraction and unsafe crossing during traffic congestion.
Q2: What can pedestrians do to be safe in areas around events?
A2: Pedestrians are expected to make use of crossing areas, not to cross distractively such as using phones and not to swerve between vehicles.
Q3: What can drivers do to help others on the street during high-traffic events to ensure their safety?
A3: Drivers need to be patient, slow down, keep safe distances and be more attentive in congested areas, or during events.
This epidemic of pedestrian deaths serves as an important wakeup call to the collective responsibility on the roads. Vigilance and caution are life savings and crucial during peak times when people are in large numbers and there is a lot of traffic.
