The Rail, Tram and Bus Union (RTBU) has penned a response to the Australian Trucking Association’s (ATA) call for improvements to be made for level crossing safety.
ATA chair David Smith wrote to the Office of the National Rail Safety Regulator (ONRSR)regarding its draft for a Code of Practice on Level Crossings and Train Visibility this week, calling for better lighting on trains and at level crossings.
But RTBU assistant national secretary Shayne Kummerfeld has hit back at the transport association, saying that the ATA’s statement was a “distraction” from other issues that may cause crashes at level crossings.
“Tinkering with lighting on trains will not change the dangerous behaviour of drivers who think they can ‘beat the train’ at a level crossing,” he says.
“The majority of level-crossing incidents occur during daylight hours when road traffic volumes are higher. Adding lights for daytime issues is nonsensical.
“Furthermore, trains already have powerful headlights, so adding more lights would not make any positive difference to safety outcomes.
“In fact the RTBU is concerned the measures being promoted by the trucking lobby would be counter-productive to safety, as they would negatively affect visibility for train drivers and track workers.
“We will continue to support improvements to level crossing infrastructure, better driver education, and stronger enforcement of road rules – including the use of fixed and mobile safety cameras and higher penalties for motorists who illegally enter level crossings.
“Road rules are there for a reason, and everyone must obey them.”
The ATA issued the National Level Crossing Safety Notice in conjunction with the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) in March, in an effort to educate truckies on the dangers presented at level crossings.
It was put together in response to a report released by the Australian Transport Safety Bureau earlier in the year which analysed a selection of 49 incidents between trains and road vehicles.
The notice included advice and key statistics on road and rail incidents.
