Latest news with #pedestrians
SBS Australia
5 hours ago
- Automotive
- SBS Australia
From speeding to not giving way at roundabouts, these are mistakes many Indonesian drivers make
Driving in Australia can be challenging for newcomers, including those used to Indonesian traffic patterns. The challenge isn't about driving ability itself, but rather that Australia's traffic rules are more complex than Indonesia's. In an interview with SBS Indonesian, Farida Simanjuntak, a driving instructor in Melbourne, shared guidance to help drivers understand the key points they need to watch for to stay safe on the roads. One common mistake, Simanjuntak said, involves speeding. 'Sometimes people aren't used to it. When the road looks empty, they just accelerate without realising there's a speed camera ahead,' Simanjuntak said. 'Here, you're expected to follow the posted speed limit—not your instinct.' Simanjuntak also pointed out that many new drivers struggle with giving way at roundabouts. 'Give way to the right. That's something people often forget, and it can lead to accidents,' she said. Most traffic signs in Australia are actually quite clear, Simanjuntak said, but when speed signs aren't visible, drivers can follow a basic rule based on the number of lanes. 'One lane usually means 50 km/h, two lanes is 60, and three lanes is 70. That's the standard guideline,' she explained. Simanjuntak also said drivers should prioritise others on the road, especially pedestrians. 'Give way to pedestrians first, then cyclists, then buses. Anything involving public transport or the public—give them priority,' she said. When asked about language support, she acknowledged that there is currently no official driver education available in Indonesian. However, interpreter services are available free of charge for those who need assistance during tests or lessons. Find out more about the driving rules applied in your states and territory . Listen to SBS Indonesian on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays at 3pm. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram , and don't miss our podcasts.
CTV News
12 hours ago
- Automotive
- CTV News
New study reveals pedestrians narrowly miss being struck at intersections every day in Canada
Andrew Brennan breaks down a new CAA study highlighting the dangers facing pedestrians and cyclists at intersections in Canada. A new study commissioned by the Canadian Automobile Association (CAA) uncovered more than 600,000 near-miss incidents involving pedestrians and cyclists at intersections across Canada. The seven-month study, conducted with Miovision, collected data at 20 intersections using 360-degree cameras and artificial intelligence to track near misses that aren't typically recorded by police. 'These aren't just close calls, they are collisions waiting to happen,' said Teresa Di Felice, assistant vice president of government and community relations at CAA South Central Ontario. Near-miss intersection A new study reveals pedestrians and cyclists face high-risk near-misses every day in Canada. (CAA / Miovision) The study found one in every 770 pedestrians and one in every 500 cyclists experienced a high-risk near-miss. Right-turning vehicles posed the greatest risk, involved in over half of pedestrian and cyclist close calls. Left-turning vehicles were involved in roughly one-third of near-miss incidents. 'The findings are clear, near-misses are not isolated events, they are daily warnings that demand attention,' said Di Felice. CAA estimates that serious near-misses happen multiple times each day at some locations. CAA study Footage that CAA reviewed a showing a near miss between a vehicle and pedestrians in a Canadian city. Uploaded June 18, 2025. (CAA) The study also identified intersection designs that help reduce near-misses, including dedicated left-turn lanes, leading pedestrian intervals that give pedestrians a head start, and advanced green lights for turning vehicles. According to CAA, tracking near misses allows cities to improve safety before collisions happen. The organization is urging municipal and provincial governments to adopt technology-based monitoring and make proactive changes based on this data.
CTV News
a day ago
- Automotive
- CTV News
‘It's shocking': CAA shows number of near misses with cyclists, pedestrians and vehicles
Footage that CAA reviewed a showing a near miss between a vehicle and pedestrians in a Canadian city. Uploaded June 18, 2025. (CAA) A new report from CAA shows a shocking number of cyclists and pedestrians have experienced close calls with vehicles. In an effort to improve road safety for all users, CAA monitored 20 intersections across Canadian cities, including in Winnipeg. Over seven months, it recorded close to 617,000 conflicts between pedestrians, cyclists and vehicles. 'I mean, it's sobering. It's shocking,' said Coun. Janice Lukes. That means one out of every 700 pedestrians and one in every 500 cyclists experience a high-risk or critical near miss with a vehicle. 'So if they would have actually happened and if there would have been a collision, they could have resulted in serious injury or death,' said Kristine D'Arbelles, the director of public affairs with CAA. The study found left and right turns posed the most near misses, followed by through traffic. CAA said to reduce these near misses, cities could add separated right-turn lanes, which slow down drivers, as well as give left-turning vehicles a dedicated green light before bikes and pedestrians. Another recommendation is installing leading signals, giving pedestrians a five-second head start into an intersection, which Winnipeg recently did downtown. The city has restrictions on some right turns and Lukes said the city is eyeing something similar for left turns. 'We're doing a lot of traffic calming. We're working at reducing—well, I'm looking at reducing the speed in residential neighbourhoods. The city's done a pilot on it,' said Lukes. As part of the study, CAA monitored St. Mathews and Wall Street in Winnipeg using an existing traffic count camera. CAA said this location was chosen because of the technological capabilities and not based on collision data. CAA did not provide data on incidents at specific locations.
CTV News
a day ago
- Automotive
- CTV News
Over 600,000 near-miss incidents with pedestrians, cyclists recorded at intersections across Canada
A new study reveals pedestrians and cyclists face high-risk near-misses every day in Canada. (CAA / Miovision) One in every 770 pedestrians and one in every 500 cyclists experience a high-risk or critical near-miss at intersections across Canada, according to a new study commissioned by CAA. CAA and Miovision—a traffic data analysis company—watched 20 intersections nationwide between August 2024 and February 2025 using cameras and artificial intelligence. They logged over 600,000 near-miss moments, indicating that at least three serious incidents occur at a single location every day. CTV News Toronto spoke to people at the intersection of Park Lawn Road and Lakeshore Boulevard in Etobicoke, and asked how safe they feel crossing the street. 'I always wait extra time and I have a toddler, it terrifies me,' one woman told CTV News. 'I don't even bike on the street I'm so scared someone will hit me,' a cyclist said. The study found that one in every 770 pedestrians and one in every 500 cyclists were involved in a high-risk or critical near-miss with a vehicle. 'That's almost a cyclist every single day that's coming into an intersection and having a conflict with a vehicle,' said Kristine D'Arbelles, director of public affairs at CAA. 'I would say that's a pretty scary number.' The majority of close calls involved right-turning vehicles, followed by left-turning vehicles, then through-vehicles, according to the study. It also found that if those near-misses were actually crashes, there would be an 85 per cent chance of serious injury. 'Using AI helps to tell us what areas (in intersections) there seems to be an issue, so hopefully we can implement a design that will prevent a collision,' D'Arbelles said. CAA says these near-misses are collisions waiting to happen and are urging municipalities to make intersections safer by improving engineering and infrastructure. The study offered three solutions that would help make intersections safer, including more dedicated left-turn lanes, pedestrian first signal crossings—meaning pedestrians could start crossing the street before vehicles move, and advanced green lights for left-turning vehicles.
CTV News
2 days ago
- Automotive
- CTV News
AI-powered study finds pedestrians, cyclists face daily danger at intersections, including in Ottawa
A new CAA study used cameras and artificial intelligence to monitor and analyze intersections, and found pedestrians and cyclists face 'life-threatening' near-misses every day. According to CAA, this is the largest Canadian study of its kind, looking at 20 intersections in 20 cities across Canada. In Ottawa, the focus was on the intersection of Merivale Road and Viewmount Drive. The city nominated this as a busy intersection, according to a CAA news release. Nationally, 616,854 near-misses were recorded over seven months, involving one-in-770 pedestrians and one-in-500 cyclists. The study found near-misses most often involved vehicles making a right turn. More than half (55 per cent of pedestrians and 50 per cent of cyclists) had a close call with a vehicle. And more than a third (34 per cent of pedestrians and 36 per cent of cyclists) were involved in conflict with a left-turning vehicle. 'Every day, pedestrians and cyclists are barely avoiding serious incidents with vehicles that could lead to truly tragic outcomes. They're not isolated to one city, nor are they rare close calls. These are daily, regular occurrences and a warning of what could happen,' says Julie Beun, managing director of communications and public relations for CAA North & East Ontario, in a news release. CAA and its study partner Miovision identified key intersection design features that could reduce the risk of these near-misses, including separate right-turn lanes, having walk signals start before vehicle green lights, and giving left-turning vehicles a dedicated green light before other traffic. 'Working with CAA and municipalities across Canada, we've been able to reveal traffic safety risks before someone gets hurt. This study shows why it's so important to use real-time data to expedite critical safety decisions,' says Olivia Babcock, senior field solutions engineer at Miovision in a news release. 'As more cities embrace a proactive approach, our technology empowers them to act faster, target interventions where they matter most, and build safer streets for everyone.' According to CAA, data was collected using 360-degree cameras at intersections of various designs across seven provinces, including Nova Scotia, Québec, Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and British Columbia. Using AI-powered video analytics, Miovison was able to detect near-misses and assess risk levels based on vehicle speed and trajectory. Detailed findings of the study can be found here. CAA's tips for drivers to avoid hitting pedestrians and cyclists: Check for cyclists and pedestrians crossing the street as you make a left or right turn. Ensure the crosswalk and bike lanes are clear before making a left or right turn. Yield to pedestrians crossing the street. Pedestrians may approach from your right or be hidden by parked cars — scan both sides of the street before turning. Be aware of cyclists that may be travelling straight while you are making a turn into their path. Turning at a slow speed can give you more time to react to unexpected movements from pedestrians and cyclists. Check your blind spots. Do a full shoulder check as your side mirrors might miss a cyclist or pedestrian. When turning right on red, come to a full stop, then look both ways for people crossing and for cyclists riding up on your right. CAA's tips to pedestrians and cyclists to stay safe at intersections: Be alert and remain focused, especially in low visibility. Make eye contact with the driver. Ensure you are seen. Avoid jaywalking. Obey pedestrian signals and only cross at marked crosswalks and intersections. Wear bright, light-coloured clothing or reflective strips, especially in low-light or dark conditions. Watch for vehicles turning at intersections or backing out of driveways. This story will be updated. Check back later for more details.
