Energex is concerned at the rise in the number of drivers crashing into the green electrical pillar boxes found in housing estates.
Area Manager at Energex, Chris Graham said that, in the past 12 months, Energex and Ergon crews had been called to nearly 90 incidents involving vehicles striking the pillar boxes and exposing electrical hazards.
“Across Queensland last year, our crews responded to 52 vehicles hitting our underground network pillar boxes which we thought was a high number, but recently-compiled data alarmingly shows a 67 per cent increase at 87 incidents,” Mr Graham said.
“These are the small, green pillar boxes many Queenslanders with underground power will see on their front property boundary,” he said.
“They house electrical equipment supplying power to the home.”
Mr Graham said if a vehicle hit a pillar box or other electrical equipment, such as padmount transformers or powerpoles, even at low speed, live parts could be exposed, causing a dangerous issue capable of making the car live or severely injuring or killing anyone who came into contact with it.
“We’re asking drivers to be well aware of their surroundings, especially our pillar boxes and other electrical assets,” he said.
“If someone in a vehicle accidentally bumps into one of our pillar boxes they should stay in their vehicle and, if safe to do so, drive it at least 10 metres away before getting out of the car and calling us on 13 19 62.”
Mr Graham said if the vehicle was stuck on the pillar box, there was a high probability the outside of the vehicle might be live, so the safest course of action was to stay in the vehicle, call triple zero for help and wait in the vehicle until emergency services and Energex confirmed it was safe to get out.
