Officers on track for safety message
Interesting observations about people’s behaviour around rail tracks as well as harrowing stories of friends and family members who had been hit by trains came thick and fast last Friday morning, the last day of Rail Safety Week.
Horizons Regional Council’s road safety officers Debbie Webster and Alastair Mayston spent a few hours at the Queen St rail crossing in Levin handing out shopping bags, pens, and brochures about rail safety to passing locals and listening to their stories and opinions.
“There were strong opinions about many people’s lack of respect for the train,” Mayston said.
Inattention, and being distracted seem to be the most common causes for encounters between humans and trains.
“Pay attention when you approach a rail crossing and take off your headphones,” said Webster.
New Zealand has more than 3000 rail crossings, that’s one every 1.5km.
Since 2012 105 people have died on the train tracks.
In Levin many pedestrians can be seen every day standing close to the track or crossing the tracks for a short cut.
Few people seem to know it is illegal to cross train tracks anywhere other than at an official pedestrian crossing.
It is smart to always stop look and listen for trains, even when the rail crossing has barrier arms, and comes with lights and bells.
Trains are much bigger and faster than you and take a very long time to stop if they can stop at all. Stop and look right then left for trains at any crossing.
Only cross when there is no train in sight, is the best advice the road safety officers can offer.
Accident statistics show the two groups most at risk of an encounter with a train are young pedestrians in urban areas and male motorists (aged 40-65) in rural areas.