The Green Man is here to help pedestrians

If a Green Man holds your hand while crossing an intersection in Auckland’s CBD, don’t be alarmed. He’s there to help you keep safe and to emphasise the green man featured in the pedestrian "cross now" light.

Auckland Transport has launched the “Cross Safely with the Green Man” campaign to remind pedestrians that it’s safer to cross intersections on a green signal. Part funded by the NZ Transport Agency, the campaign aims to improve safety and reduce serious injuries for pedestrians in the CBD.

In addition to the Green Man assisting shoppers and city workers to cross the road, there are posters, giveaways, advertising in bus shelters and green footprints on the approach to intersections to reinforce the message.

Walking and Cycling Manager at Auckland Transport, Kathryn King says it’s a fun and novel way of highlighting a serious issue.

“People in the city are often busy and can be distracted, so we just want to remind them to not cross in the middle of the block or on a red, but to go to an intersection and wait for the green light.

“The statistics confirm that crossing on a green light at a signalised intersection is a lot safer, especially in busy pedestrian areas like Queen St and Karangahape Rd,” she says.

There were 50 serious or fatal pedestrian crashes in the period from 2009-2013 in Auckland’s city centre, nine of those were on Queen St or Karangahape Rd.

A recent survey of seven locations on Queen St found that in just one hour, 2250 people crossed the road away from the lights, placing themselves at much higher risk of injury or death. Pedestrians were seen running from behind parked vehicles without looking, dodging moving traffic and walking out into the road only to have to turn around and return to the kerb.

The campaign will run until the end of July.

The total social cost of motor vehicle injury crashes in 2013 is estimated at approximately $3.14 billion at June 2014 prices. This estimate covers all injuries recorded by NZ Police, hospitals and Accident Compensation Corporation: http://www.transport.govt.nz/research/roadcrashstatistics/thesocialcostofroadcrashesandinjuries/

ENDS

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