Motorists urged to look up after surge in pedestrian deaths

MOTORISTS have been urged to slow down keep their eyes on the road after a shocking surge in the number of pedestrians mowed down by cars across Victoria.

MOTORISTS have been urged to slow down and keep their eyes on the road after a shocking surge in the number of pedestrians mowed down by cars across Victoria.

Transport Accident Commission figures reveal that 29 pedestrians have been killed so far this year compared with 23 for all of 2017.

At least two pedestrians are seriously hurt walking to the shops or work every day, with 776 people sent to hospital last year alone.

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Marlene Beck was hit by a car at a crossing outside her home after a car failed to give way. Picture: Mark Stewart

A chain of sickening incidents over the past few months have prompted authorities to speak out and call for a change in attitudes from motorists and pedestrians.

Acting Assistant Commissioner Michael Grainger, of Victoria Police’s Road Policing Command, said there was one easy solution.

“It’s simple, look up and look out for one another,” he said. “What we can’t ignore is that while the overall number of lives lost has decreased this year, our pedestrian deaths have not and we have to ask ourselves why.

“You may be doing the right thing, but if someone else isn’t, give yourself a chance to be able to stop in time, or be able to swerve out of the way or apply the brakes in time.”

Last year, 67 per cent of all pedestrian deaths were in speed zones of 60kmh or less.

Marlene Beck was seriously injured but is slowly making a full recovery. Picture: Mark Stewart

The statistics are all to real for Marlene Beck, 80, who still gets shivers when walking near the Essendon intersection where she was hit by a car in April. She was crossing Buckley St when a car ploughed through the pedestrian ­crossing.

“I spent 10 days seriously hurt in the hospital and there was nothing the doctors were able to do in terms of surgery because I was too old,” she said. I’m doing a year of physiotherapy and because I was quite active, I really do miss the ability to walk properly and move around.

“The driver of the car was given a $370 fine and three demerit points. It shocked me when I first heard that because the accident has change my life forever.”

Stuart Le Grand, of Le Grand Margalit Lawyers, said he had come across of hundreds of similar cases.

“The offending motorist was slapped with a minor traffic infringement, while Marlene has been left with permanent debilitating injuries,” he said.

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