What would you miss? Level crossing safety campaign.

[ozbob]

Launch of new level crossing safety campaign today at KGS.  I attended as one of the community representatives.

http://whatwouldyoumiss.com.au/

This is an extremely important and worthwhile initiative.  It is difficult to convince people not to take risks, not to put theirs and others lives at the edge of oblivion.  This campaign was launched today with 702 people, representing QR staff, Police, Emergency services, Union Delegates, Community representatives forming a giant 702 in the square.  This represents the number of near misses the past year.

There was an excellent media presence.  Let us all hope this message does get heeded, and is reinforced constantly.

Train crew, passengers, the community generally can be spared the loss of life, the grief and trauma with a better attitude by all road users and pedestrians.

[ozbob]

From the Brisbanetimes click here!

'If he had walked any slower he would not be here today'

'If he had walked any slower he would not be here today'
Marissa Calligeros
October 5, 2010 - 9:32AM

Donna Miles was driving her 300-tonne express train past a Brisbane platform last month when a man stepped out and strolled across the tracks.

The third-generation train driver's greatest fear was about to become a reality.

"I was halfway [past] the platform when a young guy pushed his way through the pedestrian gates and walked in front of the train," she said.

"The lights were flashing, boom gates were down, the pedestrian gates were closed and he's just pushed his way through the gates.

"He wasn't even running. He was just walking.

"I sounded the horn and hit the brakes ... he didn't even look up."

An emotional Ms Miles struggled to recount the incident this morning as she and hundreds of colleagues rallied in Brisbane's King George Square against reckless train 'chickens'.

She said the man fortunately stepped off the tracks just as her train passed Wacol Station at 60km/h.

"If he had walked any slower he would not be here today," Ms Miles said.

The incident was one of 702 similar near-misses involving motorists and pedestrians who ignored warning signs and boom gates at level crossings across the state in 2009.

More than 500 Queensland Rail staff and their families, along with police and emergency services workers, rallied to call on motorists and pedestrians to consider what they could lose if they took a dangerous risk at a level crossing.

Together, they formed the number 702 - to represent the number of lives that could have been lost last year.

"In some cases it's only luck that has saved lives, and ultimately luck runs out," QR executive officer Paul Scurrah said.

"Near miss 647 involved a school bus carrying 40 children which swerved around boom gates. The consequences had this been a collision are unimaginable."

Townsville motorist Ross Fewtrell almost paid the ultimate price for driving in front of a freight train almost 30 years ago.

"The train was right at my window, the sun was in my eyes and I just didn't see it," Mr Fewtrell said.

"It may have been a long time ago but I remember the sight and sound as if it were yesterday.

"Everyone should understand the risks around level crossings, fortunately I'm still here to share my story."

Telegraph Road at Bracken Ridge is considered one of the most dangerous level crossings in Brisbane, while other sites where near-misses often occur include Boundary Road at Coopers Plains, Cavendish Road at Coorparoo and Nudgee Road at Doomben.

[ozbob]

Some photographs from the launch

















Photographs R Dow 5th October 2010

[ozbob]

Didn't take long, did it?

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

http://www.translink.com.au/servicechange.php?1286249283

Trains suspended - Bald Hills to Carseldine

Trains on the Caboolture and Sunshine Coast lines are suspended between Bald Hills and Carseldine due to a level crossing incident at Telegraph Road in Bracken Ridge.

Passengers should expect delays of 30 minutes. Technicians are en route.

[ozbob]

erail 1.33pm

5 Oct 2010

Services for Caboolture Line have resumed as normal.

[ozbob]

612 ABC Brisbane Breakfast

--> 702 railway crossing near-misses last year

[ozbob]

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs047.snc4/34732_160052940679741_139321872752848_464883_3047824_n.jpg

[#Metro]

A truck has crashed at a notorious level train crossing on Brisbane's northside, on the same day Queensland Rail launched a safety campaign targeting commuters.

http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/level-crossing-claims-another-victim-20101005-165nn.html

Nothing wrong with the level crossing... just the motorists!!!

[BrizCommuter]

BrizCommuter, back from a break, has spoken on this subject
http://brizcommuter.blogspot.com/

[ozbob]

QUT News

--> http://www.qutnews.com/2010/10/05/qr-crossing-safety-campaign/

QR crossing safety campaign
Tuesday 5 October 2010

Queensland Rail has launched a campaign to promote safety around level crossings.

Hundreds of Queensland Rail staff and their families took over Brisbane's CBD, with the aim of reducing unnecessary deaths on our rail lines.

Isobel Roe reports.

TRANSCRIPT

   Seven-hundred-and-two volunteers in red filled King George Square, representing each near accident at a level crossing last year that could have ended fatally.

   The Queensland Rail campaign is appealing to motorists and pedestrians to slow down, and take care.

   Paul Scurrah, QR CEO: "This is about motorists being aware that the flashing lights, the boomgates, are not there for decoration, they're there for a purpose and that purpose is to save their lives and to keep the rail network safe."

   Volunteers held up the details of each near miss with a train, Queensland Rail officials say some people still don't get the message.

   Robert Dow, Rail Keep on Track Spokesman: "I observed some people in safety clothing actually run in front of a train with the gates down and the lights flashing."

   Impatient motorists are driving through falling boom gates, despite the obvious warning signs.

   The dangers involved in level crossings are real. Last year, two train drivers and one truck driver lost their lives in tragic, but avoidable, accidents.

   Paul Scurrah, QR CEO : "On New Years day in 2009, a garbage truck driver decided to roll the dice as well and drive through a level crossing in Innisfail in front of the Sunlander. Sadly he didn't live."

   Queensland Rail will work to increase the audibility of approaching trains as well as enforcing strict penalties for offenders trying to dodge them.

   Robert Dow, Rail Keep on Track Spokesman: "People driving around boomgates we believe should have their license suspended for life."

   Families say there's just too much to lose.

   Isobel Roe, QUT News.

[Sunbus610]

It sort of makes me wonder why these two important Brisbane City Council transport infrastructure projects have been sitting on the shelf gathering dust for the past few years, does anyone know why the delays with these?? I'm guessing state or federal funding perhaps.

ROBINSON ROAD (GEEBUNG) OPEN LEVEL CROSSING REPLACEMENT

TELEGRAPH ROAD (BRACKEN RIDGE) RAIL CROSSING REPLACEMENT PROJECT