Published on : Tuesday, February 11, 2014
Kiwi Rail and the NZ Police are alarmed at a spate of near collisions between motorists and trains at level crossings around the country and are urging drivers to obey level crossing warnings and exercise patience at level crossings. So far this year train drivers have reported 19 ‘near collision’ incidents at level crossings in which motorists ignored level crossing safety measures and crossed in front of approaching trains. 12 of these were at crossings protected by flashing lights and bells.
In four of these incidents motorists deliberately drove around other vehicles already stopped at the crossing in order to cross and in one the motorist had to swerve to avoid the train. In other incident a car ignored flashing lights and bells and passed just 10 metres in front of the train.“We are horrified to think motorists would deliberately put themselves, and any passengers they may have in such grave danger,’ says Kiwi Rail Chief Executive Jim Quinn. “There is no journey so important that it can’t wait a couple of minutes.”
“Trains are large and heavy and can be travelling faster that they appear and simply cannot stop quickly. There is nothing our train drivers can do when confronted with a situation like this other than to sound their horn, and hope for the best. It is a very distressing situation for them.
“We urge motorists to heed the level crossing alarms, never enter a crossing if they can see a train approaching, but be patient and wait for it to pass. National rail safety charity Track SAFE NZ also urges the New Zealand public to exercise caution at level crossings.“Unfortunately if people continue to engage in the reckless and impatient behaviour that we have already seen this year, then it is only a matter of time before we potentially have another tragedy on the railway.”
Ms Drayton says the figures also show that a disproportionate 63 percent of these near collisions occurred in the South Island, with five out of the 19 occurring on the railway line between Rolleston and Greymouth, and four on the railway line between Christchurch and Invercargill.
Source:-Kiwi Rail
Tags: KiwiRail alarmed at spate of near-collisions at level crossings, Railway News
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