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WATCH: Pedestrian 'fixated' with phone walks in front of moving car

Video has emerged of a woman distracted by a smartphone before being hit by a car south of Sydney.

The dashcam video, shot at a crossing on Swan Street, Woolooware shows the pedestrian crossing at a red light.

She stares at her phone with her headphones in as the cars pull up and, completely oblivious, gets knocked down when the light turns green.

Her feet buckle awkwardly as she falls to the ground, but it could have been much worse.

The pedestrian prepares to cross. Source: 7 News
The pedestrian prepares to cross. Source: 7 News

Martin, who was driving the car next to the one which knocked her down said she was “fixated” and with her headphones on was “in another world".

"She's very lucky. If she had walked a little faster it would have been, I think, disastrous,” he said.

The video has promoted calls for harsher penalties for pedestrians failing to pay attention when crossing the road.

The woman doesn't notice the light changing. Source: 7 News
The woman doesn't notice the light changing. Source: 7 News

The Pedestrian Council is running a graphic campaign called Don’t Tune Out, and is calling on penalties for offenders.

"Using a handheld mobile device when crossing roads, we want a minimum penalty of $200 and we want council rangers to assist,” Pedestrian Council’s Harold Scruby said.

Traffic and Highway Patrol inspector Phil Brooks said pedestrians not paying attention were putting themselves and other road users "at great risk".

“Sadly, 182 lives lost on NSW roads this year, out of which 24 were pedestrians,” he said.

The Pedestrian Council is calling on fines for people who don't pay attention crossing the street. Source: 7 News
The Pedestrian Council is calling on fines for people who don't pay attention crossing the street. Source: 7 News