by Phil Hickey
ONE in five West Australians feel unsafe walking in their neighbourhood because of busy traffic and speeding motorists, the first survey of its kind shows.
Just over half of respondents to the RAC Walking Survey said they did not walk for the recommended 30 minutes a day.
The main barriers to walking were that it was not practical because of distances, it was too time consuming, the weather interfered, poor health, and traffic and speeding cars.
…
RAC general manager of policy Anne Still said better planning would create pedestrian-friendly neighbourhoods, while Nature Play WA chief executive Griffin Longley said children needed “sensible exposure” to traffic for their own safety.
“The depth perception that allows us to safely cross roads and in time become a safe driver comes with experience,” Mr Longley said. “We aren’t born with it. Part of keeping our kids safe is how we carefully expose them to the road.”
