To the pedestrians, to make much of time

In the UK and much of Europe, pedestrians get exclusive "green man" phases. That means, if you can see a green man, no cars are allowed to drive over the crossing and you can (in theory at least) walk fearlessly across.

In NZ and Australia the rule is different. At traffic signals, pedestrians get an exclusive green man for a few seconds, then turning traffic is able to drive across the crossing, as long as there are no pedestrians on it.

The NZ road code says:

"A green signal means you can go, provided it is safe, and:

...you give way to pedestrians crossing. This includes riders of mobility devices and wheeled recreational devices."

Sort of like this:

What this means is that when the light changes to green for the turning vehicle, both the pedestrians and the turning vehicle are shown a green light. This arrangement means greater efficiency at lights as cars don't have to wait if there's no-one on the crossing. However, it does create potential for conflict as there is an added layer of complexity for pedestrians and drivers who have to decide if it's safe to proceed.

As we all know, pedestrians are more vulnerable than drivers, who have a metal box to protect them, so the onus is always going to be on the pedestrian to make sure they're safe.

What I have observed as I've been driving, cycling and walking around Wellington is that pedestrians are very cautious of crossing, even on a green man (and probably with good reason). I have been stopped on my bike waiting for pedestrians to clear the crossing, and the pedestrians stop for me to go on. Obviously the vast numbers of cyclists who flout the rules have created some caution in the minds of pedestrians, but I also think pedestrians don't actually know the rules of the road. It is even more obvious at zebra crossings (white stripes and belisha beacons). The rules state:

"When coming up to pedestrian crossings:
slow down and be ready to stop for any pedestrians stepping onto, or on the crossing. This also includes people obviously waiting to use the crossing. "

In my experience, pedestrians won't try to cross unless there are no cars approaching, or unless they see a car stop. I am the apparently crazy one who steps out when cars are coming. I do it on behalf of pedestrians everywhere to remind drivers of the road rules.

The road code is written for drivers, not for pedestrians. I would like to see pedestrians be more assertive. Until we do so, drivers will take advantage of our indecision. For someone travelling at slow speed, like a pedestrian, a delay at traffic signals can add a significant proportion of time to a journey, so it's important to take advantage of the rights you are allowed.

This said, the NZ rule at traffic signals is an outdated method of control which adds ambiguity into the process. The whole point of traffic signals is to avoid conflict, and by running two green phases simultaneously the object is defeated. Too much of our evaluation is based upon journey time efficiency, but we should remember that particularly in somewhere compact like Wellington, pedestrians are often on working time because they are walking to meetings. Those few seconds saved are of much greater value to a slow speed traveller like a pedestrian, than a fast speed traveller, like a car driver. In addition, by separating out the green phases, the risk of conflict is greatly reduced.

Changing the phasing for traffic signals is not a difficult act in itself - it is the legislation that is the challenge. But it is a challenge for transport professionals to take up.