TasRail is pushing for better education around level crossings as Rail Safety Week gets underway, warning that too many Tasmanians are still making dangerous decisions on the tracks.
While reported failures to stop or give way at level crossings dropped from 137 to 104 over the past year, TasRail CEO Steven Dietrich said the figures remain deeply disappointing.
“One hundred and four motorists failed to stop or give way at a railway crossing last year,” Dietrich said.
“That’s 104 occasions where someone made a decision that could have had devastating consequences.”
Two collisions also occurred during the reporting period.
Trespass incidents rose from 82 to 98, with TasRail risk and compliance principal Corrie Summers saying the numbers represent real dangers.
“These aren’t just statistics, they represent real risks to motorists, pedestrians, train crews, emergency responders and our communities,” Summers said.
“You wouldn’t walk your dog or go for a run in a building site, don’t do it in a rail yard.”
The northwest recorded the highest number of incidents, with 74 failures to stop or give way and 49 trespass incidents.
Crossings of concern include Wilson Street in Burnie, Main Street and Reiby Street in Ulverstone, Reeves Street and River Road in Burnie and Stoney Rise Road in Devonport.
Summers said TasRail is focusing on education to drive long-term change in behaviour.
“Our trains can be up to one kilometre long,” she said.
“They can’t swerve and they can’t stop quickly.”
Earlier this year, TasRail hosted children from the Thrive Out of School Hours Care program at its East Tamar Workshops to teach them about rail safety.
The program was so well received that Thrive has now built rail safety education into its services.
“Today’s children are tomorrow’s drivers,” Summers said.
“If we can build good habits early, we have every reason to believe the next generation will make safer choices than the last.”
TasRail continues to work with the Tasmanian Government to strengthen level crossing safety education for learner drivers.
Rail Safety Week runs until August 16 and is coordinated nationally by the TrackSAFE Foundation.
