Move to cut crossing deaths

CRANBOURNE MP Jude Perera has welcomed a new State Government initiative to improve rail safety across Victoria.
Mr Perera said the $1 million state-wide advertising campaign was designed to reduce the number of level crossing deaths through a combination of television, radio as well as outdoor advertising.
The plan will also trial several new traffic safety initiatives and greater enforcement of road laws at Melbourne’s six highest-risk crossings.
The campaign was prompted by a video camera trial at the Springvale Road level crossing in Nunawading which revealed more than 5000 traffic offences in only 28 days.
Drivers entering the crossing when it was blocked and racing the boom gates were recorded as the main offences.
“Level crossing deaths take a terrible toll on families and the wider community and also on train drivers,” Mr Perera said.
“We want to reduce this needless waste of life and the suffering it causes across metropolitan Melbourne and in regional Victoria.
“It’s clear from the trial and observing behaviour at other level crossings that too many motorists are dicing with death at level crossings,” he said.
Mr Perera said it took about 200 metres for a suburban train to stop, a figure that motorists needed to be aware of.
“The campaign is about making all motorists think about what they are doing when approaching level crossings.
“We are doing our utmost to educate drivers about how to behave safely at level crossings and trialing a range of promising engineering solutions that will make crossings safer for all road users.
“We all need to play our part in reducing this needless suffering.” Mr Perera said the State Government would be conducting a three-year review of the safety features of Victoria’s 3000 crossings to determine the most appropriate treatment for each.
He said funding for the existing level crossing safety improvement program had already been boosted by $10.8 million over four years in this year’s budget.
A second phase of the education campaign will commence in early 2006, targeting high-risk pedestrians such as children, teenagers, the elderly, cyclists and the mobility impaired.
A total of 22 people have died at level crossings over the past seven years, including nine in Melbourne and 13 in regional Victoria.
The education campaign has been developed in close coordination with VicRoads, TAC, Connex, V/Line and Victoria Police.