A “large-as-life reminder” is urging drivers to take care when crossing rural railway tracks.
The NZ Transport Agency has unveiled a locomotive-sized billboard near a railway level crossing in Mid Canterbury, at Hatfield Overdale Rd.
The Always Expect Trains campaign is jointly developed and funded by NZTA, KiwiRail and TrackSafe NZ and aims to get people off autopilot when crossing tracks. It has previously featured at North Island level crossings.
The life-sized billboard and other signs are placed near high risk, selected rural railway level crossings.
The billboard, transported by Toll NZ, acts as a visual reminder for drivers to slow down and check for real trains before they cross the railway tracks. It will be in place for several months.
The Rakaia level crossing at Hatfield Overdale Road is protected by a Stop sign only, no flashing lights, bells or barrier arms.
NZTA rail safety senior manager Brett Aldridge says the campaign is the result of research that showed local people can be complacent around railway level crossings that they use regularly.
“Local drivers often underestimate how dangerous railway level crossings can be and while train movements might be infrequent, these are huge pieces of equipment and they are absolutely unforgiving.
“Complacency can lead to risky behaviour like failing to carefully look for trains before crossing railway tracks. We really want drivers in rural areas like Rakaia to be aware that failing to check carefully for that train could be a fatal oversight.
“These collisions also have a devastating effect upon train drivers. We are hoping the life-sized train billboard will alert people to the risk.”
TrackSafe NZ manager Megan Drayton says the national rail safety charitable trust supports any initiative that has the potential to improve safety and reduce incidents at railway level crossings.
On average, there are around 22 collisions per year between trains and motor vehicles on public road crossings.
“There are hundreds of rural railway level crossings in New Zealand that just have stop or give way signs, and the onus at those crossings is on the motorist to take care by obeying the signs.
“This campaign raises awareness of the need to always look for trains, and is extremely valuable,” Drayton says.
