Photo: primemovermag.com.au

Minister for Roads and Road Safety Luke Donnellan and Transport Accident Commission CEO Joe Calafiore today announced a trial of new technology designed to keep pedestrians in Melbourne’s CBD safe.

Lights have been installed in footpaths along the edge of the road at the intersection of Little Collins Street and Swanston Street.

They change colour between red and green in time with the pedestrian crossing signals at the intersection.

The lights will be switched on around the clock, helping people walking at night or looking down at their phones know where the footpath ends.

The intersection was chosen for the trial due to a large number of people who cross roads at the intersection and disobey pedestrian crossing signals.

This year the Transport Accident Commission has partnered with the Melbourne International Comedy Festival to ensure people accessing the festival get around safely.

In addition to the newly-lit footpaths, an army of TAC lollipop people and green crossing chaperones will patrol the streets of Melbourne to help people cross the road safely.

At the end of the twelve month trial, Victoria’s road safety agencies will assess the footpath infrastructure’s suitability for roll out at other intersections across Melbourne.