Pedestrian and Cyclist Safety Framework (cont.)

Reducing risk

At the heart of the Framework's approach to improve the road safety of pedestrians and cyclists is a focus on reducing the risks faced by these road users as they move about. Road safety risks can fall under two categories - risks associated with road user behaviour, and risks associated with the physical environment.

1. Risk from road user behaviour.
   This is the risk from the interaction between different road users - the major risk posed by motor vehicles, and the risk posed to pedestrians and cyclists from each other. It also includes the risk posed by pedestrians' and cyclists' own behaviour, lack of skills, and inadequate or missing equipment (for example lighting at night in the case of cyclists).
2. Risk from the physical environment.
   This includes risks faced by pedestrians and cyclists from inadequate, poorly designed or poorly maintained facilities, such as footpaths, cycleways and the main carriageway. It also includes the general risk from transport environments that are designed, engineered and operated primarily from the perspective of motorists rather than pedestrians and cyclists.

The development and integrated implementation of good practice interventions across the areas of engineering, education and enforcement ('three Es') will help achieve these risk reductions.

The following matrices set out the components of a comprehensive approach to address pedestrian and cyclist safety under the two risk categories. Each matrix includes the objectives for the category in priority order, and identifies examples of interventions under the 'three Es' that could help achieve each objective.

Some interventions are specifically for walking and cycling. In other cases, the focus will need to be on integrating the needs and perspectives of pedestrians and cyclists into broader transport and road safety interventions.

Reducing risk from road user behaviour

Table 1. Reducing risk from road user behaviour

Objective	Engineering	Education	Enforcement
Safer behaviour towards pedestrians and cyclists from motor vehicle, bus and truck drivers including reduction in motor vehicle speeds.	Pedestrian and cyclist friendly road design. Traffic calming measures.	'Share the road' education initiatives targeting driver behaviour that causes risk for pedestrians and cyclists (e.g. share the road concepts incorporated into driver training; 'Don't burst their bubble' campaigns). Targeted campaigns on specific issues (e.g. parking on footpaths, motor vehicle use of cycle lanes).	Police enforcement of road rules, particularly those significant to pedestrians and cyclists, (e.g. failure to give way at pedestrian crossings and motor vehicle use of cycle lanes). Appropriate speed limits on mixed used roads. Police enforcement of speed limits, particularly in urban/built up areas. Local authority enforcement (e.g. illegal parking on footpaths or cycle lanes).
Safer skills and behaviour from pedestrians and cyclists.	Provision of user-friendly pedestrian and cyclist facilities that make the safe choice the easy choice.	Road safety education programmes including caregivers (e.g. Police Road Safe Series and Land Transport NZ's RoadSense). Best practice pedestrian and cyclist skill training is incorporated into road safety education. 'Share the road' programmes targeting risky behaviours of pedestrians and cyclists (e.g. pedestrians crossing against signals, cyclists running red lights, unsafe behaviour on shared-path facilities). Initiatives to encourage specific safety behaviours (e.g. visibility at night while walking or cycling).	Police enforcement of pedestrian and cyclist road rules.
Pedestrians and cyclists have good equipment.		Training, education programmes and campaigns encouraging the use of safe gear (e.g. visibility aids, well-maintained cycles, helmets and size-appropriate cycles for children).	Lighting Rule. Police enforcement of mandatory cycle helmet wearing for cyclists under the Road User Rule. Cycle and helmet standards.

 

Reducing risk from physical environment

Table 2.  Reducing risk from physical environment

Objectives	Engineering	Education	Enforcement
Transport facilities are designed and constructed to meet the needs of pedestrians and cyclists as well as motor vehicles.	Provision of best practice facilities for pedestrians and cyclists.	RCAs encouraged to use best practice guides for walking and cycling facilities. Training courses for engineers and transport planners. 'Bench marking' programmes offer feedback to RCAs on their efforts to improve conditions for pedestrians and cyclists).	Best practice guides for walking and cycling added to the list of guides RCAs must comply with to be eligible for Land Transport NZ subsidy. Use of guides incorporated into RCA Safety Management System. Regular safety audits done by suitably qualified auditors. Vulnerable road user audits incorporated into early stages of road improvement projects.
Transport networks meet the needs of pedestrians and cyclists.	Best practice network planning and provision for pedestrians and cyclists.	RCAs encouraged to use best practice guides. Training courses for engineers, transport planners and decision makers. RCA 'bench marking' programmes.	Best practice guides for walking and cycling added to the list of guides RCAs must comply with to be eligible for Land Transport NZ subsidy. Use of best practice guides incorporated into RCA Safety Management Systems.
Transport environment is properly maintained for pedestrians and cyclists.	Best practice facility maintenance undertaken for pedestrians and cyclists.	RCAs encouraged to use best practice guides. Training course for engineers and transport planners. RCA 'bench marking' programmes.	Pedestrian and cyclist facilities (e.g. footpaths, crossings, cycleways) incorporated appropriately into asset management programmes.
Vehicles less 'aggressive' to pedestrians and cyclists.		Campaign to influence consumer purchasing choices towards less aggressive motor vehicles1	Impacts on pedestrians and cyclists considered in development of vehicle related standards.

 

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Footnote:
1 - A motor vehicle's 'aggressivity' rating measures the serious injury risk vehicles pose to drivers of other vehicles, pedestrians and cyclists.

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