Pedestrians risk lives at rail crossings

Date
    December 10, 2013


The number of near misses between pedestrians and trains at level crossings in Victoria was at the highest level it has been this decade last quarter, new data shows, prompting a rebuke from the rail industry over the failure of some people to stop behaving dangerously around trains.      :-?

The growing frequency of close calls at railway crossings follows a series of recent awareness campaigns by the industry highlighting the dangers of level crossings and the potentially deadly consequences of a collision.

There were 45 reported near misses between a train and a person in the three months between July and September, figures released by Transport Safety Victoria show. It is the highest quarterly figure so far this decade, in a year in which the number of such close calls have been at consistent high levels.    

Already the number of near misses this year has exceeded the total number for the two preceding years. There were 126 close calls to the end of September, compared to 122 for all of 2012 and 123 in 2011. Figures for October and November have not yet been reported.


Bryan Nye, chief executive of the Australasian Railway Association, said rail operators continually looked for new ways to educate people about the dangers of trains, but that it generally took a tragedy, such as the 2007 level crossing smash near Kerang in which 11 passengers died, for people to get the message.

"If I knew what it takes to get through to people I'd bottle it," Mr Nye said.

"We're continually looking for new ways to educate people. Trains can't slow down, they can't stop. Take a risk with a train, you'll come off second best. We know there's over a thousand near misses a year across Australia, and every one of those is just a breath away from a tragedy."      :o

Studies had revealed some groups were repeat offenders at level crossings, including men aged over 55, women with young children and young men and women, Mr Nye said.

"Train drivers talk about mothers with children in the back seats of cars going around boom gates. It's frightening images but they still happen every day," he said.

There have been 13 fatalities at Victorian level crossings so far this decade.    

Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/pedestrians-risk-lives-at-rail-crossings-20131210-2z3bp.html#ixzz2n3vPSC4U

Get rid of primitive level train crossings.      :(

wrote on Dec 10^th, 2013 at 7:31pm:

Get rid of primitive level train crossings.      :(

Either that, or look before you cross them. 

wrote on Dec 10^th, 2013 at 7:31pm:

Get rid of primitive level train crossings.      :(

Just 13 deaths over 10 years?

Over that same period over 250 people died as a result of falling out of bed.

Get rid of beds too?

Life_goes_on wrote on Dec 10^th, 2013 at 7:38pm:

wrote on Dec 10th, 2013 at 7:31pm: Get rid of primitive level train crossings.      :( Just 13 deaths over 10 years? Over that same period over 250 people died as a result of falling out of bed. Get rid of beds too?

Is that a real stat?  I'm almost afraid to go to sleep tonight...

... wrote on Dec 10^th, 2013 at 7:39pm:

Life_goes_on wrote on Dec 10th, 2013 at 7:38pm: wrote on Dec 10th, 2013 at 7:31pm: Get rid of primitive level train crossings.      :( Just 13 deaths over 10 years? Over that same period over 250 people died as a result of falling out of bed. Get rid of beds too? Is that a real stat?  I'm almost afraid to go to sleep tonight...

And if the fall out of bed doesn't kill you, a shark probably will.

... wrote on Dec 10^th, 2013 at 7:39pm:

Life_goes_on wrote on Dec 10th, 2013 at 7:38pm: wrote on Dec 10th, 2013 at 7:31pm: Get rid of primitive level train crossings.      :( Just 13 deaths over 10 years? Over that same period over 250 people died as a result of falling out of bed. Get rid of beds too? Is that a real stat?  I'm almost afraid to go to sleep tonight...

Yes. I think the real number is close to 300. For slips and falls the number is over 2000.

We know there's over a thousand near misses a year across Australia, and every one of those is just a breath away from a tragedy."      :(   

Life_goes_on wrote on Dec 10^th, 2013 at 7:43pm:

... wrote on Dec 10th, 2013 at 7:39pm: Life_goes_on wrote on Dec 10th, 2013 at 7:38pm: wrote on Dec 10th, 2013 at 7:31pm: Get rid of primitive level train crossings.      :( Just 13 deaths over 10 years? Over that same period over 250 people died as a result of falling out of bed. Get rid of beds too? Is that a real stat?  I'm almost afraid to go to sleep tonight... Yes. I think the real number is close to 300. For slips and falls the number is over 2000.

Slipping on sharks, no doubt.

wrote on Dec 10^th, 2013 at 7:44pm:

We know there's over a thousand near misses a year across Australia, and every one of those is just a breath away from a tragedy."      :(

I came within 1 metre of being hit by a train today.  Luckily, they rarely stray onto the platform.

Life_goes_on wrote on Dec 10^th, 2013 at 7:38pm:

Just 13 deaths over 10 years?

No its 13 deaths this decade which is only 4 years old. Thats a death every 4 months.

There are a lot more beds than level crossings so "per capita" level crossings are very dangerous.

wrote on Dec 10^th, 2013 at 7:44pm:

We know there's over a thousand near misses a year across Australia, and every one of those is just a breath away from a tragedy."      :(

"Train drivers talk about mothers with children in the back seats of cars going around boom gates. It's frightening images but they still happen every day," he said.



"Risking their lives", eh?

Sorry, but I don't have much sympathy for those who get hit by trains.

You'd think that, after nearly 200 years, people would have learned that a train will always win.

No, my sympathies lie with the poor bloody train-drivers who get to see this all too often. I know
a couple who simply cannot climb into a locomotive cab after having hit/killed someone.

Kat wrote on Dec 10^th, 2013 at 8:54pm:

You'd think that, after nearly 200 years, people would have learned that a train will always win.

Always?, I bet if you layed your head on the line you could derail a train.

Innocent bystander wrote on Dec 10^th, 2013 at 9:20pm:

Kat wrote on Dec 10th, 2013 at 8:54pm: You'd think that, after nearly 200 years, people would have learned that a train will always win. Always?, I bet if you layed your head on the line you could derail a train.

So thaaatts what happened to you!!!!

Innocent bystander wrote on Dec 10^th, 2013 at 9:20pm:

Kat wrote on Dec 10th, 2013 at 8:54pm: You'd think that, after nearly 200 years, people would have learned that a train will always win. Always?, I bet if you layed your head on the line you could derail a train.

smack-knuckle!

If you can't post something sensible and/or relevant and on-topic (and you've yet to do so), why not just sod off?

If I saw you walk in front of my train, I'd be seriously tempted to accelerate.  >:(

wrote on Dec 10^th, 2013 at 7:31pm:

Get rid of primitive level train crossings.      :(

Good grief do people have to be wrapped in cotton wool?

How about we get rid of primitive people who can't read or obey road rules .... off our roads?

Doesn't matter what you do .... we just can't legislate for idiots.

I see this stupidity every day .... I'm a Train driver.

Gnads wrote on Dec 11^th, 2013 at 10:26am:

wrote on Dec 10th, 2013 at 7:31pm: Get rid of primitive level train crossings.      :( Good grief do people have to be wrapped in cotton wool? How about we get rid of primitive people who can't read or obey road rules .... off our roads? Doesn't matter what you do .... we just can't legislate for idiots. I see this stupidity every day .... I'm a Train driver.

I'm a former freight-guard, and I've also seen my fair share.

No sympathy for the idiots, plenty for the poor bloody drivers.