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Rail Safety Week: Use your brain, tracks are for trains

In its seventh year, the RSW 2012 theme ‘Use your brain, tracks are for trains’ relates to all areas of rail safety, including level crossings, trespass, station safety, commuter responsibilities and general rail safety.

In Tasmania, TasRail Chief Executive, Damien White, says RSW2012 provides an additional and high profile opportunity to help educate the community about the correct behaviour at and around railways.&nbsp&nbsp

“Community rail safety is an important issue that affects the whole community.&nbsp The combination of inattention, poor decisions, trespass and reckless behaviour puts the lives of train drivers and the community at risk,” he said.

During the last year, TasRail train drivers reported 69 level crossing near miss incidents, compared to 118 the previous year.&nbsp While TasRail is encouraged that the number of near miss incidents is reducing, the organization stresses that each and every one of those 69 near misses had the potential to result in tragedy.

“Level crossing collisions and near miss incidents have a devastating impact on everyone involved”, White said.

During Rail Safety Week TasRail will again launch a community education campaign about the correct behaviour around railways, with a series of television and radio advertisements that will also screen in Tasmanian cinemas.&nbsp The advertising complements other media being used including Facebook and Twitter.&nbsp&nbsp

Tasmania Police will also be participating in National Rail Safety Week through an increased presence at particular level crossings identified to have the highest incidence of near miss reports and/or collisions.

Partnering for rail safety education in WA
Brookfield Rail and QR National are working in partnership to promote rail safety and highlight the importance of safe behaviour along the rail network in regional Western Australia.

The two companies, who are the key players in the rail industry across the southern half of Western Australia, will visit regional primary and secondary schools with rail safety ambassador Jonathan Beninca.

Jonathan is a highly passionate rail safety ambassador who speaks to students across Australia about his traumatic rail incident that left him in intensive care with the loss of his arm, leg and several fingers, changing his life forever.

“All too easily a young person could make one wrong choice that will haunt them for the rest of their life. I was just 19 when I lost my right arm and leg after trespassing on the tracks and I believe that every student needs to understand the consequences of my actions so they too don’t make the same mistake I did.”

QRN unveils level crossing safety innovation
QR National (QRN) has unveiled an innovative new safety device which could help which could protect truck drivers from death or serious injury by preventing them from striking the 25,000 volt power lines at central Queensland rail crossings.

QR National’s Vice President Network Operations, Clay McDonald says Rail Safety Week is a perfect time to start a trial of the new device.

“These power lines carry 25,000 volts and can be deadly. We’re pleading with truck drivers to take the greatest care at level crossings, especially when they have a heavy vehicle carrying a high load or a vehicle with a high aerial,” he said.

On the Central Queensland Coal Network since 1 July 2011 there have been 91 near misses recorded and 29 collisions at level crossings.&nbsp Mr McDonald said heavy vehicles were a particular concern with a 350 per cent jump in the number of heavy vehicles hitting high voltage overhead power lines during 2011/12.

The installation of over-height detection equipment is part of a multi-pronged attack by QRN to prevent level crossing accidents that includes driver education, safety upgrades and innovation, and enforcement through fines and the recovery of costs of damage caused by motorists.&nbsp

McDonald said the equipment worked by detecting approaching over-height vehicles and then activating flashing lights and signs to alert the driver, using messages such as “OVER HEIGHT / STOP”.

For further rail safety information go to www.tracksafefoundation.com.au and check out the National Rail Safety Week website at www.ara.net.au
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