Campaign on track to save lives

Not stopping at ‘Stop’ signs at railway crossings is not only illegal, it can also be fatal – a fact being hammered home by a new safety campaign.

The State Government launched the ‘Obey the Stop Signs’ campaign last month, targeting drivers in regional Victoria who fail to stop and look for trains at crossings with ‘Stop’ signs.

The campaign will run across radio, print, online, and in cinemas, encouraging safe behaviour near railway crossings to prevent avoidable collisions between cars and trains.

The Victorian rail network has almost 1,700 public road level crossings on passenger and freight lines. Almost 20 per cent are Stop sign crossings, without lights, bells, or boom gates.

Drivers who come to a ‘Give Way’ sign at railway crossings should come to a complete stop, unless they’ve checked it’s clear to cross.

In the past five years, there have been three collisions and 30 near hits at Stop sign crossings on the regional passenger and freight networks.

These incidents not only kill or injure the drivers and passengers involved, they often put train passengers and staff at risk, both in terms of physical safety, and long-term mental health issues.

Minister for Public Transport, Ben Carroll, said taking risks at railway crossings doesn’t just affect car drivers.

“Road rules at railway crossings are there to keep our roads safe for everyone including train drivers and the hundreds of passengers that might be on their train heading towards you at over 100 kilometres an hour,” Mr Carroll said.

“Trains can’t stop quickly, so drivers must always obey the Stop signs at regional railway crossings to avoid putting your life, and the lives of others, at risk.”

On top of the serious safety risk those breaking the road rules put themselves and others in, not stopping at Stop signed railway crossings can also carry a fine of up to $3,698, and the loss of three demerit points.

The State Government’s Regional Rail Revival program is also aimed at enhancing railway crossing safety, by improving train detection technology at more than 150 regional level crossings, including upgrading 70 of them to full boom barrier protection with flashing lights and bells.

For more information about the campaign and road rules around railway crossings, visit the VicRoads website at www.vicroads.vic.gov.au.