The timing on traffic lights should be changed to help protect pedestrians, says a resident who has had a couple of close calls.
Jim Callaghan asked Whanganui District councillors on Tuesday to consider giving pedestrians a two second head start at intersections where they get the green light at the same time as the left turning vehicle.
Mr Callaghan said he first encountered the problem a few years ago when he was crossing the City Bridge at Putiki Drive.
He and a vehicle got the green light at the same time and the car pulled in front of him as he stepped out.
"It was so close. I had the shakes for about an hour after that,' he said.
"That situation has been sorted out however there are other traffic lights in the city that have that problem."
The Ingestre St and Wilson St intersection was one he encountered recently.
"The same thing happened, although the man actually stopped," Mr Callaghan said.
He said there were a few others around Whanganui.
"The pedestrian gets the green light and the motor driver gets the green light and they think they have the right of way.
"Even though the pedestrian has right of way, right of way doesn't count when a car is bearing down on you.
"I know there's a sign there but they don't always read the sign."
Mr Callaghan said giving pedestrians a green light a few seconds ahead of vehicle would solve the problem.
"Then when the driver gets the green light they see there's a pedestrian there."
Whanganui mayor Hamish McDouall said the timing of pedestrians would be raised with the council's infrastructure team.
"It's not the first time I've heard complaints that way," he said.
Mr Callaghan's request came as part of the public forum which has been introduced to start of each council meeting.
It's a chance for people to address councillors for five minutes on any issue.