Pedestrian deaths: Walk and talk can be lethal

THE State Government will pump thousands of dollars into a new advertising campaign as it looks to stem Queensland’s unusually high pedestrian death toll.

A MAJOR pedestrian safety campaign will be launched today and will see the State Government pump thousands of dollars into advertising as it looks to stem Queensland’s unusually high death toll.

The extraordinary steps come after a veteran police officer urged pedestrians to put their phones down while crossing the road, with fears simple distractions are costing Queenslanders their lives.

Pedestrians are being urged to put down their phones when using our roads.

The aim of the new State Government campaign is to encourage people on foot to “be aware and cross with care”.

Today also marks the start of Road Safety Week, at a time when the state’s toll sits 15 deaths higher than the same period last year.

Acting Superintendent Ivan Sikorsky said it was a statistic that was cause for concern – but dangerous motorists were not the only ones responsible.

“Pedestrian deaths are a tragedy and such an unnecessary waste of life that could be avoided if people think about their own location,” he said.

“Put down the phone and look at your surroundings. If you’re using headphones or anything like that then turn down the music when you’re about to cross a road.”

Currently, the pedestrian death toll sits at 21 for the year. Last year’s total for all of 2017 was 35.

As a police officer with 36 years’ experience, Acting Superintendent Sikorsky knows all too well the affect t pedestrian inattention can cause to a victim’s loved ones.

Pedestrian Safety Week will see the launch of a new advertising campaign to encourage greater awareness about the dangers of crossing the road.

The campaign will include the installation of new billboards featuring the slogan “Be aware, cross with care”, along with walking boards in key pedestrian hot spots in the Brisbane CBD, based on foot traffic and crash data.

Transport Minister Mark Bailey told The Courier-Mail: “If you are looking at your phone, you aren’t looking at the traffic signals.”