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."      

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

Quote:


Either that, or look before you cross them.

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


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

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


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

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



Slipping on sharks, no doubt.

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


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.

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.

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


So thaaatts what happened to you!!!!