Near Misses - blatant disregard for safety by road vehicles

[ozbob]

Near-Misses Common On Queensland Tracks

26.SEP.06

Train drivers face near-miss accidents at railway crossings almost daily and believe motorists' impatience and brazen disregard for road rules is to blame, a Queensland University of Technology study has found.
In a study that investigated the experiences of a group of train drivers in Queensland, motorist error and risk-taking was seen as the major contributing factor to accidents at railway level crossings.
Angela Wallace, a PhD researcher with QUT's Centre for Accident Research & Road Safety - Queensland (CARRS-Q), said all train drivers admitted to experiencing "near misses" with most being involved in a fatality at some point during their career.
"Between 1997 and 2002, crashes between road vehicles and trains at level crossings claimed 74 lives," she said.
Ms Wallace said train drivers regularly witnessed the dangerous and risky behaviour of cars and trucks driving around boom gates, ignoring warning lights and queuing over rail crossings.
"During my research in regional Queensland, I had the opportunity to see first-hand the willingness of trucks to try and 'beat the train' across railway level crossings," she said.
Ms Wallace said accidents involving motor vehicles and trains were a major problem for the rail industry, with about 100 collisions in Australia each year.
"Eight per cent of these collisions involve a fatality, while 27 per cent involve a serious injury," she said.
The study involved train drivers from regional and metropolitan areas in Queensland.
"In regional areas, many drivers reported that they experienced a near-miss with a vehicle on most shifts," she said.
"In cities many train drivers reported clusters of near-misses, while some train drivers said that near-misses would happen every day throughout the metropolitan network.
Ms Wallace said motorists needed to be more vigilant when driving at level crossings as their lives were at risk.
She said there was a need for further in-depth research into the behaviour of motorists.
"QUT is also involved in a larger research project looking into high-risk road users and developing road safety countermeasures to make railway crossings safer," Ms Wallace said.
CARRS-Q researchers are part of QUT's Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, and Queensland Rail and Queensland Transport are assisting with project development.
- (Source: QUT)

[richard]

Bob

I will preface this by saying it is purely my opinion, developed from observatio - I have no empirical evidence to back it up.

Yet again we have got a societal ill manifesting itself as a railway problem.  Laws in society are becoming optional, rather than being seen as the price we pay for a civilised society.  

People know they should give way a train, but choose not to.  They do not believe the law will impose the sanctions they can, and don't accept that their judgement is such that the train will hit them.  But it is not restricted to trains - I am waiting to rammed in the rear by a motorist who accelerates at an amber light when I stop.  Children see their parents speeding, parents encourage their children to steal from supermarkets (finish the kitkat before we get to the checkout), parents encourage children to break road rules (park in a no stopping zone at school, drive into the grounds despite being asked not to, cross against the don't walk sign....)

Like the vandalism problem on the railwayh, and violence problem on the railway, society must change before we can successfully improve rail safety.

richard

[ozbob]

Letter sent to Premiers and Ministers of Transport  7th June 2007

Dear Premiers, Ministers and Members,

Yesterday we forwarded a media release from RAIL Back On Track concerning immediate actions that could be taken to help make railway crossings safe today.

I urge you all to consider the immediate imposition of at least a 50km speed limit on the approaches to all railroad crossings. Our preferred position is that all heavy vehicles (buses and trucks) are required to stop, look and listen and then proceed.  That is possibly unacceptable politically, but surely the immediate mandate of approach speed limits is something that can done immediately.  Do we have to wait for another horrendous accident?  This would not cost a lot initially and would send a strong signal to all road users that safety is serious business.

The Australasian Railway Association Inc. has long been suggesting the introduction of realistic penalties for breaches of road rules related to rail crossings.  Others have come up with more technical solutions.  Sometimes however, the simple solutions are the best immediate course of action.  Ultimately separation of road from rail is the best outcome, but clearly not practical in all situations at this time.  RAIL Back On Track has previously raised this issue too --> http://backontrack.org/mbs/index.php?topic=71.0

We urge you all to consider what can be done today to increase safety for all Australians.   Why wait for yet more inquiries and expert review panels when immediate actions are obvious?

Yours sincerely,

Robert B Dow
Administration
RAIL Back On Track
http://backontrack.org



Copy of media release

Media Release 6 June 2007

Australia:  Save lives at railway crossings

RAIL ? Back On Track (http://backontrack.org) a web based community organisation for the promotion of rail throughout Australia has expressed condolences to all concerned with the recent level crossing crash in Kerang.

Robert Dow, on behalf of RAIL Back On Track said:

?Australia has many railway crossings.  It is time that a national policy was implemented. The level crossing crash in Kerang highlights that action is needed today.  It is time all heavy vehicles were required to stop, look and listen, and then proceed with caution at all railway crossings without booms or other gates.  This would include all trucks and buses.  This could be enacted overnight in every state. Installing protection such as booms or gates at most railway crossings is then required as soon as possible, particularly in view of the increased speed of todays trains.?

Contact:

Robert Dow
admin@backontrack.org
Administration RAIL Back On Track

http://backontrack.org

[ozbob]

Australiasian Railway Association Inc  Media Release 7 June 2007

http://www.ara.net.au/

Technological Improvements are not the Only Solution

In recent media coverage, some speakers from the trucking industry have suggested that
technology could be used to prevent Rail Level Crossing accidents. It is the firm belief of the
Australasian Railway Association (ARA) that this overlooks the real issue of illegal driver
behaviours around level crossings.

Train drivers regularly report illegal behaviours by road users, especially by heavy vehicle
drivers at level crossings, for example disobeying stop signs.

We reiterate the need for National Road User Behavioural Programs, higher fines for level
crossings infringements, and more and smarter policing.

In the past Governments have achieved very successful behavioural change in the areas of
seatbelt wearing and drink driving and Australia needs to address unsafe driver behaviours at
level crossings in a similar manner that is education and enforcement on a national scale.
?Now is the time to address drivers? illegal behaviours at level crossings as a matter of
urgency.? Mr Bryan Nye, CEO, said today.

The rail industry is already working in partnership with all State Governments in delivering a
national education and enforcement campaign to be completed by mid-2008. It is vital that
this initiative is continued and strengthened if we are to achieve our industry?s goal of zero
fatalities at level crossings.

We are urging drivers to obey road rules especially at level crossings.

RAIL Back On Track supports the ARA's call for better and more comprehensive education programs.
Education programs alone won't achieve the goal of zero fatalities at level crossings, but will go a long way to improving outcomes.  A combination of education, penalties for breaches, noise strips, speed reductions on approaches to crossings, warning signs and flashing lights at 400 metres from a crossing (particularly on open roads) will all assist in achieving the goal of zero fatalities.