Safety for motorists

Did you know that a train travelling at 100 kilometres per hour takes at least one kilometre to stop? So always be extra careful when approaching a railway crossing - always look and follow the road signs.

Some crossings alert you to oncoming trains with flashing lights, warning bells and boom gates. Many more crossings are being upgraded, but at other places it’s up to you. Remember train movements and timetables change, so make sure you stop – or you will get stopped in your tracks.

Stop, look, listen and think

STOP: all railway crossings have signs and some also have flashing lights and boom gates. Please make sure you obey them as trains can run at any time, day or night and in either direction.

Always approach cautiously and be prepared to stop at Give Way and Stop signs. If a train is coming, wait for it to pass and then stop, look and listen again before driving across as another train may be approaching.

If red lights are flashing, do not enter the crossing. Wait for the lights to stop flashing before you drive across the railway tracks.

If boom gates are ascending or descending never drive under or around these gates as an oncoming train is close to the crossing or a second train may be approaching. Wait until the boom gates fully rise before you drive across the railway tracks.

If a boom gate is down, please do not drive around it as it is extremely dangerous and it is very likely the oncoming train is close to the crossing.

LOOK: if the road on the other side of the tracks is congested, please do not drive across until there is plenty of room for you to do so safely. Never queue on a railway crossing.

LISTEN: with the car windows up, the air conditioning on and your favourite music playing, you might not hear a train coming. Also, never assume a train is a long way off as sound can be deceptive, especially at night.

THINK: trains cannot stop in time to avoid a collision. It is your responsibility as a driver to keep yourself and your passengers safe. Never overtake a vehicle that has stopped for a train at a railway crossing.

The weather also affects conditions at crossings. Wet weather affects your braking; fog affects your ability to see a train in the distance as does looking into a rising or setting sun.

Stopping may add 30 seconds to your journey, while not stopping could put an end to it completely.

So please obey the rules and stay safe.

Private/farm crossings

These railway crossings provide access to a private property and are usually gated. When entering or leaving a property, never park your vehicle on the tracks while you close the gate behind you – in the time it takes you to open and close a gate, a train can be upon you.

Emergency services

Emergencies add a sense of urgency to your decision making, but going through railway crossing warning signs and controls may create a second emergency.

A train cannot stop in response to your vehicles’ flashing lights as it takes a train one kilometre to stop.

Stopping at a railway crossing may add 30 seconds to your emergency response time, while not stopping could put an end to it completely.

Community awareness campaign

Research into accidents at railway crossings by the Australian Transport Safety Bureau found that unintended driver error was more common in fatal railway crossing crashes than in other fatal road crashes (46% compared with 22% of other fatal road crashes).

Education about railway crossing safety is essential to address community attitudes, road user complacency and high-risk behaviour at railway crossings.

A community awareness campaign has been designed to meet the following objectives:

• increase awareness of the importance of obeying road rules at railway crossings;
• create awareness of the dangers caused by the stopping limitations of trains; and
• increase safe behaviours by motorists using railway crossings.

A number of advertising campaigns have been conducted using targeted press, radio and outdoor media focusing on drivers in rural NSW since 2002. Click here to download campaign materials.

The RTA launched the latest community awareness campaign in June 2005.