Ministerial Statement: Transport Minister urges extra caution for parents ...

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Minister for Transport
The Honourable Rachel Nolan
30/11/2009

Transport Minister urges extra caution for parents with prams

A new safety campaign will be launched in the coming weeks aimed at parents with prams, urging them to pay extra attention around trains and rail platforms.

It follows a recent incident in Melbourne, in which a six-month-old-baby had a miraculous escape when the pram the child was strapped into rolled off a train platform and was struck by an oncoming train.

Transport Minister Rachel Nolan said the QR safety team had been working on the new campaign in preparation for its launch in the coming weeks.

"The incident in Melbourne is a frightening wakeup call for parents to remain extra-vigilant around public transport," Ms Nolan said.

"There are many passengers with prams on trains and rail platforms, and I can't stress enough the importance of vigilance and taking extra precautions.

"Children should be strapped into a pram securely, and parents must supervise and keep hold of a pram at all times to avoid any potential for danger.

"An unsupervised or unrestrained child can easily fall onto the tracks, while a pram left with its brakes off can easily run away onto the tracks and into the path of a train.

"We can't expect small children to understand the danger of trains, which is why we're appealing to parents to be responsible and take extra precautions."

In the coming weeks, passengers will notice new posters and brochures which highlight the correct procedures for parents with small children.

The campaign will also include the distribution of bibs which alert parents to the importance of staying behind the yellow line.

For a safe journey, parents are encouraged to follow these five simple safety tips:

    * Hold on to your pram
    * Apply the brakes
    * Park parallel on platforms
    * Use lift or ramp
    * Watch the gap and exit the pram backwards.

Ms Nolan said she hoped the new campaign would encourage all parents to heed the advice, and be more alert around trains.

"We hope this campaign will educate parents and the community so they can make wise and safe choices."

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[Fares_Fair]

I would have thought it would be much safer if the station platforms
were designed to fall from the 'embarkation lip' towards stormwater drainage pits in the centre,
that way a pram - if it were to roll, would roll away from the tracks - and not onto them.
Or are the tracks also used as stormwater drainage channels ?

Maybe that's why they seemingly have so many signal problems whenever it rains - water and signals don't mix.

Regards,
Fares_Fair.

[Derwan]

Some areas of Boondall aren't angled either way - with water accumulating in a puddle in the middle of the platform.  This creates issues for the disembarking masses in the afternoon trying to battle crowds, rain and getting around the huge puddle that would be deep enough to wet your feet if you stepped in it.