COUNTDOWN clocks similar to those used at pedestrian crossings in the United States will begin to appear at Melbourne intersections.

The clocks, which count down from 17 seconds after the red man starts flashing, have been installed at one of Melbourne’s most dangerous crossings — on the corner of Spencer and Collins streets.

Pedestrians were racing across the road to and from Southern Cross Station as usual on Thursday afternoon. Many were oblivious to the changes, which are part of a $530,000 safety overhaul for one of the cities busiest stations.

The crossings were an election promise from Lord Mayor Sally Capp and will be coupled with improvements to ramps and footpaths used by 4500 pedestrians every evening, the Herald Sun reports.

The intersection was among Victoria’s worst for accidents involving pedestrians in 2017. Fairfax reports Spencer and Collins Street was in the top 10 because it had poor footpaths and a narrow crossing width.

When news.com.au visited on Thursday, roadworks were already underway.

Melbourne has experimented with its crossing signals before. Pedestrian traffic lights depicting female figures have been installed at Swanston and Flinders streets as part of a 12-month trial after the Committee for Melbourne — a not-for-profit organisation — recommended the change.

The Equal Crossings initiative was floated by Brimbank Council in the city’s west, too, but they were slammed for making “tokenistic” gestures.

The Victorian Government is expected to roll out the countdown clocks at a number of intersections in the Melbourne CBD.