Crossing over to the dark side
Urgent need for safety upgrade of level crossings in Victoria, Australia...
Victorian motorists will be forced to run the gauntlet at railway level crossings for decades unless the Government urgently funds safety upgrades, a parliamentary inquiry says.
The inquiry into level crossing safety in the wake of the Kerang disaster has called for immediate Government action.
Eleven people were killed in June 2007 when a truck slammed into the side of a passenger train at a country level crossing near Kerang, in northern Victoria.
The inquiry's report - tabled in the Victorian parliament on Tuesday - called for some crossings to be closed and for the Government to consider heftier speed limits and new warning technology.
"Despite Government action to increase penalties for infringements, upgrade safety and reduce speed limits at some crossings, a comprehensive package of safety measures needs to be planned, funded and implemented in an energetic manner," the report said.
"Unless this is done and new safety measures implemented it will be many decades before safety at crossings is improved."
The report said all crossings should ideally be separated from the road with bridges or underpasses or be clearly marked with boom gates and flashing lights.
However, it acknowledged the Government would never be able to afford upgrading each of the state's 1872 crossings to this standard.
"This points to the need for leadership in a new direction," the report said.
It called for a comprehensive level crossing safety strategy and a national forum for tackling the issue.
The report recommended the Government remove surplus crossings across the state and consider lower cost technology that could be used to warn motorists of approaching trains.
Speed limits should be reduced to 80km/h in all 100km/h and 110km/h zones and safety on B-double and B-triple truck routes assessed.
The Government identified more than 20,000 safety issues at crossings in a 2007 survey.
This latest report said estimates must be formulated for addressing those issues and a funded, three-year program implemented to reduce crossing hazards.
Victoria has more level crossings than any other state, including 1,087 with no warning features and many that intersect private land.
"This is one reason why Victoria's safety record at level crossings does not compare well with the rest of Australia and must and can be improved," the report said.
In the six months to June 2007 there were 11 crashes and 13 fatalities involving trains and vehicles or pedestrians at level crossings.
Source: www.theage.com.au