South Australians urged to stay alert around trains and trams

Monday, 8 August 2022

South Australians are reminded to Stand back. Look up and Stay Rail Safe this National Rail Safety Week, as new near miss footage on Adelaide’s rail network shows the extraordinary dangers of inattention and unsafe behaviour around trains, trams and rail lines.

Harrowing near miss footage released by the Department for Infrastructure and Transport this National Rail Safety Week (8-14 August) highlights some of the close calls that almost ended in tragedy as people risk their life crossing rail tracks in front of oncoming trains.

On average, six collisions and 110 near misses involving either a person or a vehicle are reported by rail operators in South Australia each year.

As part of a broader national campaign, South Australians are being reminded to ‘Stand back. Look up and Stay Rail Safe.’ when around trains, trams and rail lines - it only takes one moment of distraction, or unsafe action, to change a person’s life forever.

The awareness campaign particularly focuses on the most at-risk age groups - including school aged children and seniors – and is appearing across social media, digital advertising and radio, with teams also providing information to commuters at high-risk locations on the rail network.

The trauma when a train hits a person or a vehicle is devastating and wide reaching – not only for those injured or killed and their families, but also the train driver, other rail staff, emergency service workers and the local community.

Even minor incidents cause extended service disruptions, motorist delays and property damage.

Near misses can also cause severe and lasting trauma, particularly for train drivers, staff and passengers on board.

There are approximately 480 pedestrian crossings and 557 public level crossings on South Australian railway lines, demonstrating the everyday risk of people interacting with rail corridors and the importance of exercising caution at all times.

Rail safety is everyone’s responsibility. We need to look out for each other and pay attention to our surroundings.

Trains travel at speeds of up to 110km/h and cannot stop quickly.

A typical passenger train weighs around 140 tonnes and can take up to the length of two football ovals to come to a complete stop, while freight trains need well over 1km of track to stop safely.

Pedestrians, cyclists and motorists should keep these simple points in mind when nearby railway tracks:

• Always stay behind the white line when waiting for a train or tram or to cross at a level crossing.
• Be sensible, pay attention and be alert around trains and on platforms, checking for oncoming trains in both directions (not just the track nearest you).
• Stay alert and look both ways, ensuring you only cross rail tracks at dedicated pedestrian and vehicle crossings.
• Remember to put your mobile phone away, dismount from your bike and always remove headphones when you are near train tracks.
• Take extra care around crossings with multiple tracks, high train frequency, or where there are no gates or signals.
• It is illegal to enter a level crossing while the lights are flashing or when warning bells sound.
• Always ensure there is enough space for your vehicle on the other side of a level crossing before making the decision to cross.
• Wait for the lights and bells to stop and the boom gates to go up before crossing the tracks at a level crossing.

South Australians are encouraged to test their rail safety knowledge and take the quiz atwww.mylicence.sa.gov.au/road-rules/rail-safety-quiz