Rules for pedestrians
As a pedestrian, always be aware of traffic and your surroundings. Never assume a driver or rider has seen you. Keep your attention on the road and paths you are near or on – wearing headphones or using a mobile phone may reduce your awareness of what is happening around you.
You must follow rules for pedestrians when you:
- walk or run
- push a bicycle or personal mobility device
- use a wheelchair
- use a skateboard, foot scooter or rollerblades
- use a motorised mobility device.
Different rules apply when you use a personal mobility device like an e-scooter.
The Queensland Road Rules encourage safe interactions between all road users. If you don't follow the road rules, you may be fined.
Pedestrian rules
You must:
- always walk on footpaths or nature strips where possible
- if there is no footpath or nature strip, or it’s not practical to use, you may walk on the road facing the oncoming traffic
- if using the road, do not walk alongside more than one other person, unless overtaking
- cross a road at marked crossings like pedestrian crossings, traffic signals or pedestrian refuges where possible. Wait for a safe break in traffic before crossing each section of the road.
- if there is no crossing within 20m of you, cross the road by the shortest and safest route
- at railway crossings, wait for the green pedestrian signal, boom gate to rise and alarm to stop before crossing – a second train may be approaching
- at a tram stop, wait until the tram has stopped at the station before you cross
- follow all traffic instructions from a police officer
- give way to vehicles at roundabouts
- obey a 'no pedestrian' sign.
You must not:
- cross a road if you are facing a red pedestrian light
- cross a road within 20m of a pedestrian crossing – you must use the crossing
- get out of a moving vehicle
- cross a railway level crossing when it is not allowed
- cause a traffic hazard by moving into the path of a driver
- walk along, or fail to give way when crossing, a dedicated path for bicycles and wheeled devices (when the path displays a bicycle path only sign).
How to use crossings
Pedestrian crossings
To use a pedestrian crossing:
- Stand at the edge of the crossing
- Wait until the traffic has come to a complete stop before walking or wheeling across to the other side of the road.
- If you need to cross more than one lane, be sure that all approaching traffic has seen you.
Children's crossings
Children's crossings operate only when the red 'children crossing' flags are displayed. They are designed to help children cross the road safely near schools.
To use a children's crossing:
- Wait on one side of the road for the supervisor to walk out on to the crossing with a red stop sign.
- Do not start to cross until the traffic has stopped and the crossing supervisor has blown a whistle.
Pedestrian crossings at traffic lights
To use a pedestrian crossing that is controlled by a push button:
- Look for the guidance stickers on the traffic signal pole near the push button.
- Push or bump the pedestrian button on the traffic signal pole to register that you want to cross the road.
- You may only cross the road when facing a green pedestrian light, figure or 'walk' signal. For your safety, do not cross until you have checked that motorists have stopped for their red traffic light.
- If a red pedestrian light, figure or 'don't walk' signal appears after you have started to cross, you must finish crossing the road without delay. Some intersections have pedestrian countdown timers installed. These count down the time remaining during the 'don't walk' signal to tell you how long you have to safely finish crossing the road.
- You must not start to cross the road when facing a flashing or solid red pedestrian light, figure or 'don't walk' signal.
Audio-tactile buttons
Most pedestrian push buttons are now an audio tactile type to assist people with disability. These push buttons make a slow beeping sound to assist in locating the button. The beeping sound changes to a faster beeping sound to indicate when it is safe to cross the road. The buttons include an up-arrow which helps people with vision impairment to determine the crossing angle and direction. The arrow also vibrates to help hearing-impaired people.
Read more about automated pedestrian crossing signals at intersections.