Pedestrian Crossing Safety: Why Visibility Is Under Increasing Focus

Pedestrian safety is receiving renewed attention across Australia and New Zealand, with recent industry research identifying opportunities to strengthen how pedestrian infrastructure is planned and designed. In 2026, Austroads released its Strategic Review of Pedestrian Planning Guidance, examining existing guidance and opportunities for improvement. The review considered the Safe System approach, Universal Design and Movement and Place, including how pedestrian safety is addressed at crossings and intersections. For councils, transport authorities, airports and other organisations managing areas where vehicles and pedestrians interact, visibility remains an important part of the crossing environment.

Why Is Pedestrian Crossing Visibility Important?

Pedestrian crossings create a point where vehicles and pedestrians must interact. Drivers need sufficient awareness of the crossing environment, while pedestrians need infrastructure that supports safe movement across the roadway. For pedestrian warning systems, important site considerations can include:

• Pedestrian volumes

• Approaching vehicle movements

• Day and night visibility

• Site layout and shading

• Solar exposure

• System autonomy and recharge requirements

• Positioning and visibility of warning signage

These factors become particularly important when designing an off-grid solar-powered system.

How Can Solar Pedestrian Warning Systems Improve Visibility?

A solar pedestrian warning system can provide an off-grid method of increasing crossing visibility to approaching vehicles. Rather than relying on mains electricity, the system uses solar generation and battery storage to power warning equipment. This can be particularly useful where connecting a crossing to grid power would require additional trenching, cabling or electrical infrastructure. However, the system still needs to be designed around the individual site.

Solar Pedestrian Crossing at Cairns Airport

Solar Lighting Designs’ Cairns Airport project demonstrates this approach. The client wanted to improve pedestrian safety by enhancing the visibility of the painted crossing between the car park and terminal. Before installation, SLD undertook a site assessment incorporating aerial imagery, shade analysis and on-ground traffic observation.

Pedestrian crossing rates were assessed to determine system autonomy and recharge requirements, while approaching vehicles were considered to ensure the warning signs would be clearly visible when activated. The installed system incorporated reflective, backlit and edge-lit Australian Standard pedestrian crossing sign faces, programmed with an animated flash when pedestrian activated. A light sensor automatically adjusted visible output for day and night conditions.

A Wider Focus on Pedestrian Safety

Austroads’ recent research reinforces the importance of considering pedestrian safety as part of the broader road environment. For organisations responsible for crossings, that means looking beyond pavement markings alone. Pedestrian movements, vehicle approaches, visibility and the surrounding environment can all influence the appropriate solution. Solar-powered pedestrian warning systems provide one option where increased visibility and independent, off-grid operation are required.

Improving Visibility Starts With the Site

There is no single solution to pedestrian safety. For solar pedestrian warning systems, understanding how pedestrians use the crossing, how vehicles approach it and how the solar system will perform under local conditions allows the solution to be designed around the actual environment. Solar Lighting Designs assesses site conditions and develops commercial solar lighting and warning solutions for projects across Australia. Contact Solar Lighting Designs to discuss the requirements of your pedestrian crossing or road-safety project