A final report into Brisbane’s pedestrian safety has offered a host of recommendations to make the city’s streets safer and reduce fatalities, including removing slip lanes and reducing speed limits.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
In June, following multiple pedestrian deaths on the streets of the city, lord mayor Graham Quirk announced the citywide Move Safe Brisbane review to establish why so many pedestrians were being killed or injured.
Between January and November, seven pedestrians died on Brisbane streets - six while crossing roads, and one hit by a car involved in a separate car crash.
A preliminary report for Cr Quirk’s pedestrian safety review offered multiple projects and changes, most of which have been implemented, including reducing the speed limit on Ann Street to 40km/h.
“It quickly became clear from initial review of the data, and feedback from the community, that pedestrian safety issues are not confined to the CBD,” Cr Quirk said.
“Brisbane is known as a walkable and accessible city and we want everyone – whether they live in Brisbane or are visiting – to be safe on our streets.”
The final report will be debated at the council’s Tuesday meeting, offering nine outcomes to improve pedestrian safety around the city.
Data from Transport and Main Roads and Queensland Police showed pedestrian crashes cost $442 million over five years up to 2017 across Brisbane.
The average cost of a pedestrian crash in Brisbane is $391,000 - nearly double the cost of other crashes at $219,000.
The report’s nine recommended outcomes include reducing speed limits, particularly in village precincts, along with reviewing slip lanes, zebra crossings and road safety improvements.
Alongside the reduction of Ann Street’s speed limit in November, four other roads are proposed to be reduced to 40km/h in the new year - Oxley Road in Corinda, Mains Road and McCullough Street in Sunnybank, and Old Cleveland Road in Stones Corner.
The report also recommends the council investigate speed-limit reductions at a number of village precincts, including Station Road in Indooroopilly between Moggill Road and Coonan Street, Riding Road in Hawthorne between Main Avenue and Dutton Street, and Lutwyche Road between Felix and High streets.
Seven CBD intersections are also recommended to install pedestrian protection by adding additional turning arrows phased to allow pedestrians a few seconds more to cross the street before the arrow turns green.
Traffic lights are also recommended to be investigated throughout the central city area, altering phasing to favour pedestrians, with the report recommending the council develop a list of prioritised projects by June 2019.
Slip lanes were also highlighted in public feedback for the pedestrian safety review as a key danger for pedestrians, with many respondents saying drivers approached the lanes too fast.
The report found pedestrians with prams or elderly pedestrians were particularly vulnerable at slip lanes.
Proposals to increase pedestrian safety at slip lanes includes redesigning the lanes, adding zebra crossings or lights.
The slip lane at Ann Street and Creek Street in the CBD highlighted in the report as a key intersection requiring upgrades.
The report found Ipswich Road, Logan Road, Main Road and Adelaide Street were some of the roads with the highest pedestrian casualty cost between 2013 and 2017.
Within the CBD, the report found Adelaide Street, Ann Street, Albert and George Streets had the highest incidents of fatal or serious pedestrian crashes.
The report will be debated at Tuesday’s council meeting and a final copy published on the council's website.
