NSW Police are looking to target risky driver behaviour at level crossings as part of a high visibility awareness campaign in the State’s Central West.
Traffic and Highway Patrol, Peel Sector Manager, Inspector Kelly Wixx said the campaign, running until 31 March, aimed to increase public safety and awareness around rail level crossings in regional NSW.
Inspector Wixx said it was part of an ongoing series of enforcement campaigns between the NSW Police Force and the NSW Centre for Road Safety at Transport for NSW.
She said police would be on the lookout for motorists disobeying level crossing flashing lights and stop signs; vehicles queuing over the railway tracks; speeding near level crossings; and drivers who were distracted by illegal use of mobile phones.
“Motorists are urged not to be complacent as trains can come from any direction, at any time, and there can be multiple trains on tracks that can travel at speed of up to 160km/h,” Inspector Wixx said.
“Some trains can take more than a kilometre to come to a complete stop, so even if they see you, they can’t stop,” she said.
“Disobeying level crossing warning lights and signs can lead to crashes between vehicles and trains where the consequences can be deadly.”
Inspector Wixx said people needed to take personal responsibility when around level crossings to ensure the path was clear.
“Speed and distractions are both major factors when it comes to level crossing collisions. Those few moments of inattention can be fatal,” she said.
“This is why we need to continue raising awareness and reinforce our ‘Train to Stop’ message to motorists at level crossings.”
Inspector Wixx said that from July 2008 to June 2022 there were 92 collisions between trains and cars at level crossings in NSW, resulting in 10 people losing their lives and 17 suffering injuries – “all of which could have been avoided”.
