Ambos call for caution
THE Ambulance Service of NSW is urging drivers and pedestrians to be alert in the wake of Friday's incident at Coffs Harbour Jetty,
At around 8.45am a woman was struck by a truck on the corner of Nile and Edinburgh Streets on a morning walk and while she had a fortunate escape, there's been a growing list of such incidents state-wide in recent weeks.
In the five days beginning April 30 there were in excess of 40 incidents of pedestrians being hit by vehicles across the state with 25 of these in the Sydney metropolitan region.
Of these Sydney-based incidents, 14 occurred in school zone hours.
In the comparable period in 2011 there were 10 such incidents
Acting Chief Executive of Ambulance Service of NSW, Mike Willis, said no matter the time - day or night - drivers and pedestrians must keep an eye on their surroundings.
"It's important for drivers and pedestrians to remember to exercise caution when they are on the roads or crossing them," he said.
"Traffic conditions change rapidly so drivers and pedestrians should be alert and aware of what is going on around them and take care and caution on the roads.
"Never assume an approaching vehicle can see you or will stop for you."
Paramedics attending Friday's scene at the Jetty outlined a similar case where it appears the pedestrian crossed the road and mistook that the garbage truck was stopping for her when in actual fact it was pausing at a give way sign.
"We see a lot of accidents occur at pedestrian crossings so you should always wait for vehicles to pass completely or come to a complete stop before crossing any intersection," Mr Willis said.
"Everyone has family, friends and loved ones.
"Fatalities and serious injuries affect not only the lives of the immediate victims but also that of many family members, friends and the community as a whole so it's vital that all road users take their responsibilities to themselves and others seriously."
