An accident in which a big-rig driver was hospitalized after his vehicle was struck by a train has inspired a new safety program in Queensland, Australia. The program, currently in early testing stages, is intended to reduce the frequency of these types of accidents by warning drivers approaching train tracks of any oncoming train via bulletins broadcast over public radio waves and receivable by automobile radios. The cause of the recent accident, which occurred in broad daylight with no indication that the big-rig driver had attempted to circumvent the crossing barrier, which should’ve lowered to signal the approach of an oncoming train. On impact, the big-rig was torn in half. The driver suffered severe injuries to his leg and pelvis.
According to some industry professionals, the driver of the Shorncliffe-bound train may have had difficulty spotting the vehicle on the stretch of Brisbane railroad track, because of the frequency with which vehicles are routinely parked in close proximity to the track. The driver, some speculate, may not have determined the big-rig truck was in motion until it was too late to prevent the collision. The traveling speeds of the vehicles involved in the accident have not yet been determined, but audio and video records of the accident are currently being analyzed.
The Rail Level Crossing Safety Technology Trial, first announced in June, is intended to prevent these types of accidents by providing a secondary warning system to drivers approaching railway crossings in the case of an approaching train. Three technology firms are competing for a $1 million grant to test safety technology in various Queensland sites.
To avoid becoming involved in an accident at a railway crossing, safety experts recommend that drivers approaching train tracks slow down to check and double check the tracks for an approaching train. Experts advise that a train can approach at any time. Attempts to beat a train across the tracks or pass another vehicle within 200 feet of a railroad crossing frequently end in tragedy, and drivers are reminded that some vehicles, such as public school buses, are legally required to come to a complete stop at train tracks, whether or not the no crossing signal has been activated.
If a driver is required to stop his or her vehicle, experts advise, the vehicle should be brought to a stop at least fifteen feet away from the tracks to allow space for the train, which is typically three feet wider than the train tracks on either side. At least until the Rail Level Crossing Safety Technology Trial is completed, experts recommend drivers approaching train tracks turn off their car radios in order to better hear an approaching train.
