National road freight association Transporting New Zealand says freight companies have a vital role in preventing accidents at level crossings as TrackSAFE Foundation’s Rail Safety Week gets underway.
The campaign, running from August 11 to 17 and launched at Parliament on Monday, carries the theme “Stay off stay safe – Tracks are for trains,” highlighting that crossing anywhere but official railway level crossings is both dangerous and illegal.
Between 2010 and 2020, there were 52 fatal and serious injury incidents at level crossings, with research showing 54% of crashes occurred at crossings where the only controls were ‘STOP’ signs.
A June 2025 report by KiwiRail and WSP found many New Zealand drivers are failing to look both ways before entering crossings. From more than 3600 driver observations, 47% did not stop at crossings with Stop or Give Way signs. Compliance was almost twice as high for truck and trailer drivers compared with car drivers.
Transporting New Zealand chief executive Dom Kalasih says the report paints a stark picture of careless driving.
“While the focus of this year’s Rail Safety Week is ensuring people are walking and crossing at official level crossings, drivers also need to be playing their part,” he says.
“All vehicles should be complying with all traffic signage, and also exercising common sense and good judgement.
“I’m reassured to see that truck and trailer compliance at level crossings is higher than light vehicles, as you would expect from professional truck drivers. However, it’s clear that all motorists need to be lifting their game.”
The association is set to meet with TrackSAFE to discuss how better signage and improved level crossing design could reduce accident risks for both heavy and light vehicles.
“Regulators need to be ensuring clear level crossing signage and good level crossing design across the entire country,” Kalasih says.
Transporting New Zealand is also urging operators with safety concerns about particular level crossings to email info@transporting.nz so feedback can be passed to KiwiRail and the relevant authorities.
Nearly half admit to crossing tracks illegally
Almost half of New Zealanders have walked on or across railway tracks without using a designated level crossing, new TrackSAFE research shows.
The survey of 1000 people found 45% had trespassed on the rail network — an offence under the Railways Act 2005 that can carry fines of up to $10,000.
“Last year alone, KiwiRail staff reported 642 trespass incidents and of those, 60 were near misses with pedestrians,” TrackSAFE Foundation manager Megan Drayton says.
“The unreported number is undoubtedly much higher.”
Many said they trespassed because it was quicker, they were unaware of a nearby crossing, or they didn’t believe it was dangerous.
“Trespassing on railway property remains a persistent problem,” Drayton says.
“Trains can appear at any time, travel faster than they seem and take much longer to stop than people realise.”
KiwiRail chief executive Peter Reidy urged people to model safe habits and speak up about unsafe behaviour.
Rail Safety Week is coordinated by KiwiRail and TrackSAFE in close partnership with NZTA Waka Kotahi, NZ Police, Auckland Transport, Auckland One Rail, Greater Wellington Regional Council, Transdev Wellington, councils and supporting organisations and schools throughout New Zealand.
