28 July 2009: Queensland: Stop does mean stop!

[ozbob]

Media Release 28 July 2009

Queensland:  Stop does mean stop!

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! Automatic licence suspension for level crossing breaches together with full cost recovery for the damage, death, injury and disruption should also be mandatory.

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

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

"Yesterday another motor vehicle drove into boom gates and disrupted rail services. Just another incident in the ongoing saga of high risk behaviours by motorists and their apparent disregard for their own and others welfare."

"A 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:

29 May 2009 Queensland:  Bridge strikes, level crossing incidents continue unabated - action demanded today.
http://backontrack.org/mbs/index.php?topic=2327.0

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

"Time Queensland Transport and the Government took decisive action."

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