Article: Two escape after Mitchelton accident

[ozbob]

From the Courier Mail click here!

Two escape after Mitchelton accident

Two escape after Mitchelton accident
Article from: The Courier-Mail

Jane Chudleigh

June 17, 2009 10:00pm

TWO people were lucky to escape with minor injuries when their car was hit by a train in Brisbane's north in another accident involving boom gates.

About 7.30pm the car went around level crossing boom gates on Glenholm St, Mitchelton and was struck from behind by an inbound train.

Local resident David O'Sullivan said he was standing outside his house when the crash happened.

"The car was stopped there, the boom was down and the train had already tooted," he said.

"The car has pulled out and around the boom gates and half lined up to miss the other boom gate."

He saw the train hit the car from the driver's side.

"It's right about the slow-motion thing. It felt like forever but it was over in an instant."

He said the two occupants of the car were very lucky to survive but he often saw people driving and walking around the lowered boom gates.

Both the driver and passenger were taken by ambulance to the Royal Brisbane Hospital with minor injuries.

A Translink spokeswoman said the crash had caused disruptions to night services.

"The passengers on that train were transported by bus and we are expecting buses to run for the rest of the night between Mitchelton and Ferny Grove stations," she said.

The spokeswoman said services should be returned to normal before the morning peak period.

Despite a $1 million advertising campaign this year warning of the danger of attempting to beat oncoming trains, motorists continue to disobey lowered boom gates at alarming rates.

The first three months of the year saw 53 collisions with boom gates - a rate of four a week.

The T-intersection on Telegraph Rd in Bald Hills, also on Brisbane's north, has had more near-misses and boom gate collisions than anywhere else in the southeast.

In the past 16 months, 12 boom gates were hit and broken by motorists and in the past year three near misses with trains were recorded.

[ozbob]

Correspondence sent to media 18th June 2009

---------------------------

Greetings,

Bridge strikes and level crossing road rule disobedience  continues unabated in Queensland.  Where is Queensland Transport ?  Where is the Government?

It is time that the Government and the authorities actually did something.  This shambles on the roads has to stop!
There are many solutions in the releases below.

Please, can someone come forward and actually act in the interests of all the community?

Best wishes
Robert

Robert Dow
Administration
RAIL Back On Track


================================

Media Release 30 May 2009

Queensland:  Level crossings - clarification

RAIL Back On Track (http://backontrack.org) a web based community support group for rail and public transport and an advocate for public transport commuters has constantly called for Governments to actually bite the bullet and take real decisive action to sort out the appalling attitudes of all road users ; drivers, pedestrians and bicycle riders,  with regard to rail crossing safety.  Blatant disregard of directions to stop has caused death, injury and significant costs to the community.

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"Following the distribution of a media release concerning level crossing safety yesterday morning, there was yet another incident of boom gates being struck in Brisbane (1).  There was some confusion in the interpretation of that release.  We have never suggested that 'stop signs be placed at crossings with boom gates'."

"We have consistently suggested there needs to be comprehensive approach to this issue."

"This includes:

a.  Increased penalties for breaches. The present $300 fine and the loss of a few demerit points is a joke.

b.  Increased enforcement: Active patrolling and red light cameras at crossings.

c.  Continue the education of all road users, including pedestrians and bicycle riders.

d.  Continued improvements at and on approaches to level crossings including standard traffic lights.

e.  Heavy vehicles be required to STOP at unprotected crossings and proceed when safe to do so."

"An unprotected crossing is one without booms or gates. What we said was that heavy vehicles be required to stop at unprotected crossings. This happens in many other jurisdictions already. This follows from reports of drivers of trucks to fail to hear the warning bells and not see the flashing lights at crossings because of glare. Clearly in the absence of gates/booms it is not a safe situation."

"Following the fatal school bus incident in Dalby last year there was a recommendation made for all school buses to stop at unprotected crossings. This has still not been acted upon. Experts made those recommendations."

"The only fail safe solution in the end is road rail separation. This won't be achieved so again we call on decisive Government action today!"

Reference:

1.   http://backontrack.org/mbs/index.php?topic=2327.0

Contact:

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org


====================================

Media Release 29 May 2009

Queensland:  Bridge strikes, level crossing incidents continue unabated - action demanded today.

RAIL Back On Track (http://backontrack.org) a web based community support group for rail and public transport and an advocate for public transport users has called for immediate action to stop road users causing chaos with the rail network, and for the Government to get serious about bridge strikes.

Robert Dow, spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"Yesterday on the QR Citytrain network more chaos from bridge strikes and motorists disregarding road rules and smashing into boom gates.  It is time that something was done!  Enough is enough."

"Heavy vehicles, buses and trucks must stop at all unprotected level crossings immediately and only proceed if safe to do so."

"We call on the Queensland Government to take decisive actions today before there is another disaster."

Attached to this release are earlier releases for information.

Contact:

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org


For all RAIL Back On Track Media Releases please visit http://backontrack.org/mbs/index.php?board=19.0


====================================

Media Release 16 May 2009

Queensland:  Level crossing safety actions and enforcement needed today

RAIL Back On Track (http://backontrack.org) a web based community support group for rail and public transport and an advocate for public transport commuters has said that the continuing pandering to road users concerning level crossings has now reached crisis point.  Road vehicle drivers are still regularly breaking road rules at level crossings. They don't care!

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"Train crew, train passengers and road vehicle drivers and their passengers need immediate protection."

"The latest report of a school bus failing to stop as directed at a rail crossing (1) just further highlights inaction on recommendations that arose out of the investigation in 2008 of a fatal school bus level crossing collision between Dalby and Chinchilla on the 5th June 2008 (2)."

Listed immediately below are a number of recent statements from RAIL Back On Track concerning level crossing safety and enforcement:

9 May 2009: Queensland: It is time - call for automatic licence suspension ...
http://backontrack.org/mbs/index.php?topic=2246.0

16 Apr 2009: Queensland: Time for level crossing action
http://backontrack.org/mbs/index.php?topic=2140.0

1 Jan 2009: Queensland: Passengers want action concerning railway crossing ...
http://backontrack.org/mbs/index.php?topic=1718.0

"Enough is enough.  Will it take another level crossing disaster before the authorities act?"

References:

1.  http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/05/15/2572088.htm
2.  http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/10/16/2393501.htm?site=southqld

Contact:

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org

===========================

Media Release 18 February 2009

Queensland:  Time for action to stop bridge strikes

RAIL Back On Track (http://backontrack.org) a web based community support group for rail and public transport and an advocate for public transport users has called for the implementation of a policy that works to eliminate rail and road bridge strikes by heavy road vehicles.

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"Yesterday, yet another heavy vehicle was jammed under the rail bridge at Corinda which crosses Oxley Road.  Clearly, the present system of drivers theoretically knowing the travelling height and width of their vehicle before they start a journey is not working.  Warning signs are ignored."

"Warning devices on the approaches to over bridges should be mandatory, and with today's electronic and satellite navigation systems further back up warning alerts are possible."

"It is farcical that these bridge strikes are allowed to occur month after month with seemingly little action to address the fundamental issues."

"The serious risk is that eventually a major incident may occur with possible loss of life."

"The disruption to the transport network that follows these bridge strikes is costly for the community.  We call on Queensland Transport to snap into gear and address the problem of bridge strikes with some urgency."

Contact:

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org

[Mozz]

From the information in the original post I would suggest a charge of dangerous driving under the criminal code section 328.

[mufreight]

Definately a case where the driver of the car should be charges and QR should take civil action for all damage and costs incured.
Pain in the hip pocket publicly inflicted will be an effective deterrent to most of these idiots.

[Dean Quick]

53 collisions at boom gates in the first three months of this year!!! Despite all the money spent on warning advertising. I think that the time for talk is over and serious action is now very necessary to prevent another Kerang disaster. Mandatory gaol terms, loss of licence and heavy fines would be a start.

[ozbob]

From the Courier Mail click here!

Railway level crossing boomgate dodgers may face charges

Railway level crossing boomgate dodgers may face charges
Article from: The Courier-Mail

Ursula Heger

June 19, 2009 12:00am

A COUPLE who deliberately drove around lowered boom gates and were hit by a passenger train at Mitchelton have been described as "foolish" and could face criminal charges.

Witnesses to the incident on Wednesday night said the small, red sedan had driven between lowered boom gates at a level crossing on Glenholm St before they were hit from behind by an inbound train.

More: two escape death as train hits car

The 47-year-old man and 40-year-old woman were taken to hospital with serious spinal and internal injuries. They were reported to be in a stable condition yesterday.

A spokeswoman for the Queensland Police Service yesterday confirmed the driver of the vehicle could face a fine of up to $2000 for disobeying warning lights at a level crossing, and the loss of three demerit points.

The spokeswoman said that, while the case was still be investigated, criminal charges including dangerous driving could be laid.

The damage bill for the accident, which disrupted several night services in the area, is expected to be extensive.

QR passenger executive general manager Paul Scurrah said people who tried to beat oncoming trains were playing "Russian roulette" with their lives and endangering others.

"It threatened the lives of the two people in the car, and it threatened the lives of the 60 passengers on board the train and my staff, the drivers of that train," he said.

"My focus is on the people involved, particularly the drivers who are traumatised, and the guard."

Transport Minister Rachel Nolan yesterday described the pair as "foolish" and said the people had to take responsibility for their actions.

"My early advice on this one is that the boom gates were down, and the people tried to drive around them," she said.

"I mean that is just an incredibly dangerous and foolish thing to do and so I implore people to take care of themselves around level crossings."

An investigation by The Courier-Mail last month found motorists were continuing to risk their lives at level crossings, despite a $1 million advertising campaign by the State Government in January.

Brisbane City Council has earmarked $3.6 million next financial year towards the cost of upgrading of level crossings at Geebung, Wynnum and Bald Hills.

Blog comment:

Not only should the driver be charged, but full cost recovery initiated for the damage caused, and the cost of replacement services and disruption, including call out of emergency crews.  If this was rigidly enforced together with automatic suspension of licence drivers would soon wise up and accept that they actually have responsibility to themselves and others. 

Time for real actions!  STOP THE CHAOS!