Longer red lights for Sydney drivers

Sydney motorists will have to be extra patient at traffic lights before turning under reforms aimed at better protecting pedestrians.

A four-second leeway will be added to help pedestrians cross at 560 intersections in NSW, mainly in Sydney.

Orange flashing lights will also be added to curb pedestrian accidents, Roads Minister Duncan Gay says.

Thirty-five pedestrians have died in Sydney this year, up eight from this time last year.

Mr Gay says NSW is the first state to adopt these traffic measures and it is a direct response to calls from the coroner.

"It's a simple thing, if the coroner says we need to do this, we need to do it," he said.

"The simple physics that if it's a car turning and there's a pedestrian there, the pedestrian loses out every time."

The rollout will happen over three years, with the government admitting there will be disruptions.