Pedestrian Council of Australia

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The Pedestrian Council of Australia (PCA) is a road safety lobby group which seeks to promote walking as a transport mode.[1] The chairman and sole member is Harold Scruby.

Scruby is often quoted in Australian media on matters relating to road safety.[2][3][4] The PCA achieves a high media profile by choosing issues and taking a controversial position, such as calling for more point-to-point and mobile speed cameras,[5][6] and increased fines for pedestrians.[7]

The PCA supports use of an app for dobbing in parking violations[8] and claims that children "do not have the physical or cognitive skills to cross roads on their own until they are 12".[9]

In 2017, the PCA released an advertisement warning against pedestrians being distracted around roads.[10]

Complaints from the PCA have resulted in several ads showing vehicles at speed (in controlled conditions) being banned from Australian television, following his complaints to the Australian Advertising Standards Bureau.[11][12][13][14] It is suggested that this is a result of a few individuals taking advantage of the system, rather than reflecting a common view in the wider community.[15] The PCA has also called for a major tourism event in Adelaide (the Supercars Championship round) to be banned, due to the theory that it encourages speeding.[16][17] It has also proposed that mp3 players be banned for drivers and for the manufacturers to place warnings on their packaging.[18] The Drift Mode of the Ford Focus RS has also been the campaigned against by the PCA, despite drivers being clearly notified that the mode is for racetrack use only.[19] These positions have been described by critics as nanny state behaviour.[20][21][22]

Several anti-bicycle proposals have been put forward by the PCA: banning bicycles from shared use paths, imposing a 10 km/h (6 mph) speed limit on bicycles and requiring bicycle riders to purchase third-party insurance.[23][24][25][26][27]

References[]

  1. ^ "Structure and Objectives". www.walk.com.au. Retrieved 27 January 2018.
  2. ^ "Pedestrian Council blasts crossing removal". www.goulburnpost.com. 7 November 2014. Retrieved 27 January 2018.
  3. ^ "Australia's obsession with smartphones and tablets could be killing us". www.news.com.au. Retrieved 27 January 2018.
  4. ^ "Speeds in school zones need to be standardised, according to Pedestrian Council of Australia CEO Harold Scruby". www.canberratimes.com.au. 10 February 2017. Retrieved 27 January 2018.
  5. ^ https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/nsw/nsw-road-toll-call-for-pointtopoint-speed-cameras-to-be-used-on-all-vehicles/news-story/733ca7b4a1885ec247bafc57c2098c96[bare URL]
  6. ^ "The most dangerous school zones in NSW". 10 December 2017.
  7. ^ "Fewer pedestrians being fined or cautioned for jaywalking but SA police will continue safety blitzes | Adelaide Now". Archived from the original on 2017-07-20.
  8. ^ https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/newslocal/mosman-daily/pedestrian-council-chairman-harold-scruby-called-unaustralian-after-mosman-resident-catches-him-using-council-dobbing-app/news-story/460f1ac7d1d9d99416e965b5170dabda[bare URL]
  9. ^ "When should kids get a mobile phone or start walking to school on their own?". 21 January 2018.
  10. ^ "'Don't tune out': Violent pedestrian safety ad intended to hit hard". www.au.news.yahoo.com. Retrieved 27 January 2018.
  11. ^ https://www.drive.com.au/motor-news/bentleys-high-speed-ad-banned-20160704-gpyjrr
  12. ^ "Watchdog bans Volvo ad - the Australian - 30/5/2012".
  13. ^ "Ever wonder why they have disclaimers on ads?".
  14. ^ "John Bowe fights back over banned Bentley Continental GT video".
  15. ^ "Walk Man Drives Car Wars". The Australian. 11 November 2004.
  16. ^ "Do V8 Supercars road races encourage speeding". Archived from the original on 20 August 2018.
  17. ^ "Scruby stands by his call to ban motor racing". Archived from the original on 4 September 2018.
  18. ^ https://www.themotorreport.com.au/car-article/what-grinds-my-gears-the-pedestrian-council-67220.html
  19. ^ "Australian Safety Advocates Want to Outlaw Ford Focus RS Drift Mode". 15 July 2016.
  20. ^ http://blogs.smh.com.au/newsblog/archives/dom_knight/014072.html
  21. ^ "Thank you Ford, for Focus RS Drift Mode - Drive".
  22. ^ https://www.evomagazine.com.au/nt-vs-the-nanny-state/
  23. ^ "Shared bicycle paths a farce". www.walk.com.au. Retrieved 24 October 2018.
  24. ^ "Pedestrian v cyclist: when sharing is not caring". www.executivestyle.com.au. Retrieved 24 October 2018.
  25. ^ "Submission 39- Non-registered motorised vehicles" (PDF). www.parliament.nsw.gov.au. Retrieved 24 October 2018.
  26. ^ "Pedestrian Council of Australia". www.jonathonsbicycleblog.wordpress.com. Retrieved 24 October 2018.
  27. ^ "Pedestrian Emily Greenwood run down by cyclist".
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