Skip to main content

Melbourne trials light-changing footpaths

The city of Melbourne, Australia, is trialling new technology in a bid to improve pedestrian safety at intersections. Lights have been installed in footpaths along the edge of the road at the intersection of Little Collins Street and Swanston Street. They change colour between red and green in time with the pedestrian crossing signals. The lights will be switched on around the clock, helping people walking at night or looking down at their phones know where the footpath ends. The intersection was cho
March 27, 2017 Read time: 1 min
The city of Melbourne, Australia, is trialling new technology in a bid to improve pedestrian safety at intersections.

Lights have been installed in footpaths along the edge of the road at the intersection of Little Collins Street and Swanston Street. They change colour between red and green in time with the pedestrian crossing signals. The lights will be switched on around the clock, helping people walking at night or looking down at their phones know where the footpath ends.

The intersection was chosen for the trial due to a large number of people who cross roads at the intersection and disobey pedestrian crossing signals.

At the end of the twelve month trial, Victoria’s road safety agencies will assess the footpath infrastructure’s suitability for roll out at other intersections across Melbourne.

Related Content

  • Motorcyclist safety in the spotlight
    April 4, 2017
    Motorcyclist safety along eight high-risk routes in regional Victoria, Australia is to be boosted as part of a package of road safety improvements. The Motorcycle Safety Levy-funded upgrade work includes the installation of new rub-rail protective barriers, sealing driveways and roads, better surfaces, signage and roadside improvements to create a safer and more rider-friendly environment. Work is already complete on three routes in the region, with a further eight upgrades expected to be finished by
  • Jenoptik helps StarTraq to process Australia driving offences
    April 5, 2023
    State of Victoria has rolled out Distracted Driver Camera Project to stop phone use
  • NSW university launches high-tech safety study
    April 16, 2013
    Road experts led by Australia’s University of New South Wales (NSW) professor Mike Regan are to conduct what is said to be the most thorough traffic safety study in Australian history. Cameras inside and outside cars will film 400 volunteers in Victoria and New South Wales in an effort to analyse the cause of crashes and change driver education and road safety campaigns. The cameras will record how drivers behaved and reacted in ''real world'' situations. John Wall, manager of road safety technology with N
  • Car parking and parked cars need not be a technological black hole
    March 19, 2015
    David Crawford mines the potential of joined-up parking. Drivers conventionally see parking as an isolated, often frustrating, action; but collectively their attempts to find a space impact hugely on traffic flows. But new analyses of parking events look set to deliver real benefits to motorists and cities alike. Initiatives getting under way around the world are highlighting the advantages of connecting up parking events and – eventually - parked cars. The hoped-for results include not only enhanced urban