The State Government is rolling out a new safety campaign this week in a bid to save lives at regional railway crossings.
The Obey the Stop Signs campaign targets drivers in regional Victoria who fail to stop and look for trains at crossings with ‘Stop’ signs, reminding them that the consequences of being complacent when making regular trips could be fatal.
Almost 20 per cent of Victoria’s 1700 level crossings are Stop sign crossings, without lights, bells or boom gates.
Through the campaign, the State Government is encouraging drivers to bring their vehicle to a complete stop at Stop signs and slow down,
Motorists are also encouraged to check for trains and come to a complete stop at Give Way sign crossings unless it’s clear to cross the tracks.
In the past five years there have been three collisions and 30 near hits at Stop sign crossings on the regional passenger and freight networks.
In addition to the vehicle drivers or passengers involved in these incidents, collisions and near hits also put train passengers and staff at risk and can have a long-term and devastating impact on the mental health of train drivers and first responders.
Public Transport Minister Ben Carroll said drivers needed to work together to avoid putting lives at risk.
“Road rules at railway crossings are there to keep our roads safe for everyone, including train drivers and the hundreds of passengers that might be on their train heading towards you at over 100 kilometres an hour,” he said.
The radio, print, online and cinema advertising campaign encourages safe behaviour to prevent the collisions and near hits that put lives at risk and disrupt rail services and road access.
Motorists face fines of as much as $3698 as well as three demerit points if they are caught breaking the road rules around Stop signed railway crossings.
The State Government is investing in upgrading crossings across the state, including fitting boom barriers and flashing lights and bells to regional crossings and automatic gates, adding electromagnetic latches and building new fencing and other improvements at pedestrian crossings.
The Regional Rail Revival program is improving train detection technology at more than 150 regional level crossings, including upgrading 70 of them to full boom barrier protection with flashing lights and bells.
Many of these crossings currently only have Stop or Give Way signs.
For more information about the campaign and road rules around railway crossings, visit the VicRoads website at vicroads.vic.gov.au
