Pedestrian Crossing Rules in Australia: All Types

Photo: John Robert McPherson, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

At every pedestrian crossing in Australia, you must give way to people on or entering it, and you must never overtake a vehicle that has stopped at one. The details change with the type of crossing: zebra, pelican, children’s crossing, wombat crossing or shared zone. This explainer covers each type and the state differences learners get tested on.

Key facts

Zebra crossing: give way to any pedestrian on it. Approach at a speed that lets you stop.
Children’s crossing: works when red-orange flags are out. Stop before the stop line or stripes.
Wombat crossing: a zebra crossing on a raised hump. Give way to pedestrians and cyclists on it (ACT).
Shared zone: give way to every pedestrian. The limit is 10 km/h in NSW, or as signed.
Never overtake a vehicle stopping or stopped at a crossing.
No stopping: within 20 metres before or 10 metres after a pedestrian or children’s crossing, unless a sign allows it.
Do not drive onto a crossing if the road beyond it is blocked.

Types of crossing and what you must do

Crossing	How to recognise it	Your duty
Pedestrian (zebra) crossing	White stripes; yellow sign with a pair of legs; sometimes zig-zag lines before it	Give way to anyone crossing. Stop if needed
Pelican crossing	Traffic lights with a button for pedestrians	Stop on red. On flashing yellow, go only if no pedestrians are crossing
Marked foot crossing	Pedestrian lights, not at an intersection	Obey the lights. On flashing yellow, give way to anyone still crossing
Children’s crossing	Red-orange “Children crossing” flags; red and white posts in the ACT	Stop before the line when flags are out (state details below)
Wombat crossing (ACT)	Crossing marked across a raised speed hump, signposted	Give way to pedestrians and cyclists on it. Do not overtake a stopped vehicle
Pedestrian refuge	An island in the middle of the road	Slow down and watch for people crossing in two stages
Shared zone	Shared zone sign, often with a low speed limit	Give way to all pedestrians. Keep to the signed limit

Children’s crossings: the state wording differs

All the handbooks agree you must stop for a children’s crossing while the flags are out. They word the detail slightly differently:

NSW: when the flags are out, slow down and stop before the white stripes or Stop line. Stay stopped until all pedestrians have left the crossing.
Victoria: stop at a flagged crossing if a pedestrian is on or entering it, even with no supervisor present. Do not move until they have left.
WA: stop before the crossing when the attendant extends the flags. Do not move until the attendant withdraws them.
Tasmania: slow down and be ready to stop. Stop for children, pedestrians or riders on or entering the crossing, and wait until all have left.
ACT: school crossings work only when a School Crossing or Children Crossing sign or flag is displayed. Stop at the white hold lines and stay stopped until the crossing is clear.
NT: when the flags are out, stop before the stop line if a pedestrian is on or entering the crossing. Wait until all have left.

The safe habit everywhere: when the flags are out, stop, and wait until the crossing is completely empty.

School crossing supervisors

If a supervisor is holding a “Stop, children crossing” sign, you must stop. Stay stopped until the supervisor stops showing it, or signals you to go (NSW, NT, VIC).

Combined crossings

Some zebra crossings become children’s crossings at school times. With the flags out, children’s crossing rules apply. With them removed, normal pedestrian crossing rules apply (NSW, NT).

School zone times and speed limits are in school zones in every Australian state.

What is a wombat crossing?

A wombat crossing is a pedestrian crossing marked across a raised, speed-hump style section of road. The ACT uses them where traffic needs to slow down for children, older people and slow walkers. The rules are those of a pedestrian crossing: give way to pedestrians and cyclists on the crossing, and do not overtake a vehicle stopped at it. The ACT handbook is the only state handbook in this guide that describes them by name. Raised crossings in other states follow the ordinary pedestrian crossing rules.

NSW priority paths and continuous footpaths

NSW has two newer crossing designs that learners often miss:

Priority path crossing: a path crossing marked with Give way signs or lines, sometimes on a raised or coloured surface. Slow down, be ready to stop, and give way to pedestrians, bike riders and vehicles at or near the crossing. Look along the path, because a cyclist can arrive quickly.
Continuous footpath: the footpath carries on across a side street at the same level instead of stepping down. Slow down and give way to pedestrians on it and to approaching vehicles.

If a Stop sign sits just past a NSW crossing, you must stop again at the sign, even though you have just stopped for the crossing.

Shared zones

NSW: 10 km/h limit. Give way to any pedestrian, slowing or stopping if needed.
Victoria: 10 km/h or the limit on the Shared zone sign.
ACT: typically 10 or 20 km/h. Expect raised entry thresholds, no formal crossings, and road raised to footpath level at intersections.
Tasmania: drive at or below the signed limit. Even with no limit shown, drive with considerable care.
NT: the shared zone sign in the handbook shows 10 km/h.

Pedestrians at intersections, slip lanes and turns

When turning, give way to pedestrians crossing the road you are turning into.
In a slip lane, give way to pedestrians crossing it (WA). See giving way in Australia.
Parallel walk crossings (WA): pedestrians get a green signal a few seconds before drivers. Turning vehicles must give way to them.
Older pedestrians may not finish crossing before the lights change. Be patient (VIC).
You must try to avoid a collision even if a pedestrian is doing the wrong thing (VIC, NT).

Light and arrow rules: traffic lights and arrows in Australia.

Stopping and parking near crossings

Do not stop on a pedestrian or children’s crossing.
Do not stop within 20 metres before or 10 metres after one, unless a sign allows it (NSW, WA, TAS, ACT, NT).
At pedestrian lights not at an intersection, do not stop within 10 metres before or 3 metres after them (NSW, ACT, NT).

Full distance list: parking rules in Australia.

Scenario: the car ahead stops at a zebra crossing

You are in the right lane of a two-lane road. The car in the left lane stops just before a zebra crossing, and you cannot see why. Do not pass it. Stop behind the line, because a pedestrian, often a child, may be stepping out from in front of that car. Move off only when the crossing is clear.

Common questions

Do I have to stop if a pedestrian is waiting at a zebra crossing but not on it?

The rule is to give way to pedestrians on the crossing. Approach slowly enough to stop, and stop if someone is stepping onto it.

Can I drive on once the pedestrian has passed my side of the road?

At a children’s crossing, no. Wait until all pedestrians have left the crossing, or until the flags are withdrawn in WA. At a zebra crossing, make sure nobody is still crossing into your path before you move off.

What does flashing yellow mean at a pedestrian crossing?

At a pelican crossing or marked foot crossing, you may drive through carefully, but only if no pedestrian is still crossing.

What speed is a shared zone?

10 km/h in NSW, and 10 km/h or as signed in Victoria. The ACT says typically 10 or 20 km/h. Always follow the sign.

Is a wombat crossing the same as a speed hump?

No. It is a pedestrian crossing built on a raised hump. You must give way to pedestrians and cyclists on it.

Does a pedestrian refuge give pedestrians right of way?

A refuge is an island to help people cross in two stages. It is not a marked crossing, but you should always look out for pedestrians there.

Sources

Transport for NSW, “Road User Handbook” (nsw.gov.au)
NSW Government, “Pedestrian crossings” (nsw.gov.au)
Department of Transport and Planning Victoria, “Road to Solo Driving” (transport.vic.gov.au)
Department of Transport and Major Infrastructure WA, “Drive Safe: A handbook for Western Australian road users” (transport.wa.gov.au)
Department of State Growth Tasmania, “Tasmanian Road Rules, Version 2.1” (transport.tas.gov.au)
Access Canberra, “ACT Road Rules Handbook” (accesscanberra.act.gov.au)
Northern Territory Government, “NT Road Users’ Handbook” (nt.gov.au)

Pedestrian, School and Wombat Crossings in Australia