{"id":26702,"date":"2024-04-11T07:58:56","date_gmt":"2024-04-10T21:58:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.railexpress.com.au\/?p=115871"},"modified":"2024-04-11T07:58:56","modified_gmt":"2024-04-10T21:58:56","slug":"australian-truck-association-calls-for-better-train-lighting","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/?p=26702","title":{"rendered":"Australian Truck Association calls for better train lighting"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Image: John White Photos\/stock.adobe.com
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Lighting and illuminating<\/a> trains more effectively must be a legal requirement to save lives at level crossings, Australian Trucking Association<\/a> Chair David Smith has said.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Smith was releasing the ATA\u2019s response to the Office of the National Rail Safety Regulator\u2019s (ONRSR) draft Code of Practice on Level Crossings and Train Visibility.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe code\u2019s voluntary and non-binding nature is problematic for improving train illumination. Accidents at night-time represent a significant proportion of total road deaths, suggesting that decreased visibility plays a significant role in collisions,\u201d Smith said.<\/p>\n

\u201cRoad users and rail workers are dying, and better lighting on locomotives and wagons, such as flashing beacon lights and side lights could prevent crashes and save lives.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe ATA strongly advocates for making lighting and illumination a legal requirement, emphasising that train conspicuity is a critical aspect of level crossing safety.<\/p>\n

\u201cTrucks are required by law to meet minimum lighting and illumination standards. There is no reason why trains should not be subject to similar requirements.”<\/p>\n

Rail, Tram and Bus Union<\/a> (RTBU) Assistant National Secretary Shayne Kummerfeld said the ATA\u2019s call for flashing beacons and side-lights on trains to be made compulsory by law was a deliberate distraction from the real causes of level crossing collisions \u2013 the failure of drivers to abide by road rules, and the unrealistic pressure on truck drivers from trucking companies.<\/p>\n

\u201cTinkering with lighting on trains will not change the dangerous behaviour of drivers who think they can \u2018beat the train\u2019 at a level crossing,\u201d Kummerfeld said.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe majority of level-crossing incidents occur during daylight hours when road traffic volumes are higher.<\/p>\n

Adding lights for daytime issues is nonsensical.<\/p>\n

\u201cFurthermore, trains already have powerful headlights, so adding more lights would not make any positive difference to safety outcomes.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn fact the RTBU is concerned the measures being promoted by the trucking lobby would be counterproductive to safety, as they would negatively affect visibility for train drivers and track workers.\u201d<\/p>\n

The ATA has called for the code to be transitioned into regulations under the Rail Safety National Law to ensure greater accountability and safety compliance in the rail industry.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe ATA urges ONRSR to seize this opportunity to demonstrate the rail industry\u2019s dedication to achieving zero deaths and serious injuries at level crossings,\u201d Smith said.<\/p>\n

Mr Kummerfeld said the RTBU was continuing to push for a zero-tolerance approach to level crossing safety.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe will continue to support improvements to level crossing infrastructure, better driver education, and stronger enforcement of road rules \u2013 including the use of fixed and mobile safety cameras and higher penalties for motorists who illegally enter level crossings,” he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cRoad rules are there for a reason, and everyone must obey them.\u201d<\/p>\n

The post Australian Truck Association calls for better train lighting<\/a> appeared first on Rail Express<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Lighting and illuminating trains more effectively must be a legal requirement to save lives at level crossings, Australian Trucking Association \u2026 <\/p>\n

The post Australian Truck Association calls for better train lighting<\/a> appeared first on Rail Express<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":13,"featured_media":1,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_uf_show_specific_survey":0,"_uf_disable_surveys":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[184,163,43],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-26702","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-industry-safety","category-rail-industry-news-australia-new-zealand","category-safety"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t