Police urge pedestrians to stop walking through traffic while on phone

Pedestrians glued to their phones are darting in front of traffic “without thought” and being hit by cars at an alarming rate. Now, police are cracking down on the reckless behaviour.

Senior Constable Greg Browne and Constable Thomas Nagle making sure pedestrians are obeying street signs and traffic symbols as part of a police operation targeting major intersections across Melbourne’s northern suburbs. Picture: Mark Dadswell

Pedestrians glued to their phones are crossing major intersections “without thought” and being struck by vehicles at an alarming rate, according to police.

Greensborough Highway Patrol’s Sergeant John Liddle said incidents involving vehicles and distracted pedestrians had increased by 100 per cent across Nillumbik, Banyule, Darebin and Whittlesea in the past 12 months.

Police ramped up their patrols in key areas last week in a bid to curb the “reckless” offending.

High St from Northcote to Reservoir was targeted, as well as St Georges Rd, Bell St, Rosanna Rd, Burgundy St and Lower Heidelberg Rd.

Senior Constable Greg Browne and Constable Thomas Nagle patrol High St in Preston, one of the key areas police are targeting in a Melbourne north-wide operation. Picture: Mark Dadswell

Main Rd, Diamond Creek and Heidelberg-Kinglake Rd in Nillumbik would also be part of the ongoing operation, police said, while High St, Cooper St, Dalton Rd and Plenty Rd were roads of concern in the City of Whittlesea.

“We are responding to too many incidents where cyclists and pedestrians are being struck by vehicles,” Sergeant Liddle said.

“Pedestrians are so intent on their phones they are wandering across roads and between vehicles without thinking.

“Other pedestrians and cyclists also have their headphones and ear pods in — this takes away one sense you need to help you use the roads safely.”

The police blitz is targeting speeding, jaywalking, obeying of street signs and traffic symbols, cyclist and pedestrian behaviour and unregistered vehicles.

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Greensborough Highway Patrol ran a similar operation on May 28 and May 30 where drivers, cyclists and pedestrians were targeted on St Georges Rd, High St, Bell St and Burgundy St.

Police recorded 96 offences on May 28 and 50 on May 30.

“We ask that pedestrians and cyclists take one headphone out or don’t use them at all on the roads,” Sergeant Liddle said.

“It takes 10 seconds to cross a road, so you do not have to be on your phone in that time.

“We also ask pedestrians to look for a safe space when crossing the road and always utilise the green traffic man rather than the red.”

The operation will continue at random times in Melbourne’s north in the next two months.

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