Nearly half of New Zealand motorists do not always stop at level crossing Stop or Give Way signs, a new study has found.
In support of International Level Crossing Awareness Day on 5 June, KiwiRail is sharing the research in the hope that motorists will take the New Zealand Road Code more seriously.
KiwiRail commissioned the research through engineering and personal services firm WSP, to monitor motorist behaviour at railway level crossings.
The new research aimed at identifying low-cost improvements that could be made to signage at crossings with Stop or Give Way signs, particularly those where there was a short distance between the tracks and a state highway.
Paul Ashton, Acting Chief Operations of KiwiRail said the findings are disturbing.
“KiwiRail urges drivers to take responsibility for the safety of everyone in their vehicles, and to follow the rules to keep themselves, other road users and KiwiRail staff safe,” said Ashton.
“Level crossings are dangerous places. Protection comes from obeying the signs.”
From observations of more than 3600 drivers, the data showed 47 per cent failed to stop at crossings with Stop or Give Way signs.
Earlier research had found more than half of the deaths in serious level crossing collisions over a ten-year period occurred at crossings with Stop or Give Way signs.
Under current guidelines, not all level crossings need to have additional ‘Look for Trains’ signs. However, the research found the percentage of motorists who stopped to be higher when they were in place.
It also showed motorists were less likely to exhibit safe behaviours if there were only Give Way signs.
The research recommended Stop signs be used instead of Give Way signs to improve safe driving behaviour. Stopping compliance was almost twice as high for truck and trailer vehicles, at 66.7 per cent, compared with cars at 35.4 per cent.
Megan Drayton, Manager of TrackSAFE, said while the results are concerning, the number of incidents at level crossings in 2024 was an improvement on previous years.
There were eight collisions at level crossings last year, compared with 17 the year before.
“Disappointingly, recent analysis of incidents shows that 95 per cent of collisions and 73 per cent per cent of near misses were at crossings that already have flashing lights and bells or barrier arms installed,” said Drayton.
“This emphasises how important an individual’s behaviour is when it comes to safety around railway tracks.”
Drayton said even close calls at level crossings take a huge toll on train drivers and those who narrowly miss collisions or injury.
“Trains and rail maintenance vehicles always have right of way and travel faster than they appear to,” she said.
“Locomotive engineers can blow the horn and put on the emergency brakes, but there is often little else they can do to stop the train in a hurry.”
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