Notice Type
Authorities/Other Agencies of State
Notice Title

Pedestrian Countdown Signals Trial

Pursuant to subclause 3.4 (1) of the Land Transport
Rule: Traffic Control Devices 2004 and pursuant to a sub delegation to me by the Director of Land Transport,
I, Lyndon Bryan Hammond, Manager Networks, hereby authorise the installation and maintenance of experimental pedestrian countdown signals:
(i) for the purpose described in Schedule 1;
(ii) in the form and use set out in Schedule 2;
(iii) at the locations stated in Schedule 3;
(iv) for the period specified in Schedule 4; and
(v) subject to the terms and conditions detailed in Schedule 5.
These experimental pedestrian countdown signals shall be used for the purpose of evaluating their use and the trial shall be called the “Pedestrian countdown signals trial”.
Schedule 1—Purpose of trial
The purpose of the trial is to evaluate pedestrian countdown signals that show a pedestrian the remaining time to cross the road during the flashing red man signal phase. In particular, to determine:
(a) their effectiveness in producing desirable pedestrian behaviour that will improve safety of the crossing;
(b) pedestrian perceptions of the new signal arrangement compared to conventional pedestrian crossing signals;
(c) pedestrian comprehension of the new signal arrangement; and
(d) any standards, guidance or possible changes to Land Transport Rules.
Schedule 2—Form and sequence of pedestrian countdown signals
A. Form of signals
For the signals in Auckland:
In each standard pedestrian signal display unit, the lower static green walking human figure signal will be replaced by a display variably showing an animated green walking human display or a yellow countdown display of one or
two digits representing the time in seconds remaining for pedestrians to finish crossing the road. The effective height of both the animated symbol and the digits in the countdown display must be at least 160mm. All other requirements for pedestrian displays as specified in the Land Transport Rule: Traffic Control Devices 2004 must be met.
For the signals in Wellington City and Hutt City:
A yellow countdown display of one or two digits representing the time in seconds remaining for pedestrians to finish crossing the road, will be fitted either between the red standing human signal and the green walking human signal or beside the red standing human signal. The effective height of the digits in the countdown display must be at least 160mm. All other requirements for pedestrian displays must be met as specified in the Land Transport Rule: Traffic Control Devices 2004.
B. Sequence
Pedestrians shall be controlled by the displays and sequence of signals described as follows:
(a) in Auckland City, an animated green walking human figure display, and in Wellington City/Hutt City,
a steady green walking human figure display, to indicate the period during which a pedestrian is allowed to enter a roadway followed by a flashing red standing human figure symbol and a yellow countdown display;
(b) a steady red standing human figure, displayed for at least two seconds, to indicate when a pedestrian must not enter a roadway followed by a blank display followed by:
(A) the display at (a); or
(B) a steady red standing human symbol followed by the display at (a).
Schedule 3—Locations of the trial
The trials shall be carried out at the following locations:
Auckland City
(1) at the intersection of Quay Street and Queen Street (Britomart Transport Centre).
(2) at the intersection of Queen Street and Victoria Street.
Wellington City
(3) at the intersection of Vivian Street (State Highway No. 1) and Taranaki Street in Wellington.
Hutt City
(4) at the intersection of Queens Drive, Margaret Street and Bunny Street.
Schedule 4—Duration of the trial
The trial will commence no earlier than 30 October 2006 and shall end on 30 October 2008 unless otherwise notified in the New Zealand Gazette.
Schedule 5—Terms and conditions of the trial
The format of the trial and its evaluation shall comply
with this notice, and in conducting the before, after and other surveys, should follow the procedures documented in Countdown Clock Trial Application prepared on behalf of Auckland City Council by Opus International Consultants Limited dated May 2006 and as otherwise agreed with the Director of Land Transport.
Dated at Wellington this 24th day of October 2006.
LYNDON BRYAN HAMMOND, Manager Networks.