This week’s Level Crossing Safety Roundtable in Brisbane saw the transport industry and governments agree to a trial of level crossing safety camera technology.
Rail, Tram and Bus Union (RTBU) Assistant National Secretary Shayne Kummerfeld said the trial, to be undertaken in Queensland, would be the first step in the rollout of safety cameras across Australia.
“The RTBU has made it clear that there must be zero tolerance approach to level crossing safety.
“Too many people have been killed in needless level crossing collisions in Australia. The madness has to stop.
“All motorists should know that if they enter a level crossing in front of a train then they may be caught and they could suffer a heavy penalty.
“The trial of cameras in Queensland is a good first step, and we will be working with the Queensland Government to evaluate the trial to speed up a National rollout of infringement-deterring cameras.”
Mr Kummerfeld said other outcomes reached at the roundtable included:
• Participants agreed Penalties for level-crossing infringements should be harmonised across Australia;
• Major trucking companies would brief drivers on locations of level crossings before the start of their journey, and the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) advised all level crossings that are included in the OpenStreetMap are now available as a layer on its National Network Map;
• NHVR is commencing discussions with ARTC to understand how to obtain locations on a national scale and then with other Rail Infrastructure Managers;
• ARTC and RTBU will commence discussions on how to improve data collection to assist in identifying hot spots for enforcement programs; and
• The rail and trucking industry, along with state, territories, and federal governments, will work together on a national driver education process to change behaviour around level crossings.
“The outcomes of the level crossing safety roundtable are just the first step. The RTBU membership is united to not let this end here” Mr Kummerfeld.
“The challenge is now to keep building the momentum for lasting change and to eliminate level crossing collisions altogether.
“Ultimately our goal is for governments to have the will to invest in better level crossing infrastructure, in-vehicle technologies and for a continual ongoing investment in rail/road separation programs to save lives”.
