A new national safety campaign launches today as part of a coordinated effort by government, regulators and industry to reduce deaths, injuries and near hits at level crossings across Australia.
The Don’t Risk the Rails campaign is the latest tool in a multi-faceted approach to improving safety at level crossings. Dozens of Australians have lost their lives in preventable collisions at level crossings over the past decade while almost 950 near hits are recorded at crossings every year.
Don’t Risk the Rails will run online, via social media, billboard and audio placements with specific messages targeting both light and heavy vehicle drivers. The campaign reminds road users to take extra care at level crossings, and that no shortcut, distraction or moment of impatience is worth risking a collision with a train at one of more than 20,000 level crossings across the country. The National Level Crossing Safety Committee (NLCSC) – which comprises the Commonwealth and state and territory governments, regulators and key industry bodies – undertook a review of data on incidents and near misses on and around level crossings as well as existing road safety campaigns, to identify education gaps and develop the campaign message.
Learn more here.