The final phase of an enforcement campaign targeting risk behaviour at level crossings in the Central West region has begun, with Traffic and Highway Patrol Command to increase their presence between June 21 and July 2.
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Officers will focus on level crossings situated near Red Bend, Forbes and Daroobalgie.
The campaign is aimed at increasing public safety and awareness around rail level crossings in regional NSW and is a part of an ongoing collaboration between NSW Police, the Centre for Road Safety and Transport for NSW.
Traffic and Highway Patrol Command Manager of Peel Sector, Inspector Kelly Wixx, said the campaign has returned positive results so far but far too many motorists continue to make potentially fatal decisions by ignoring warnings.
The penalty for disobeying controls is three demerit points and a $464 fine and, between July 2008 and June 2020, there was 77 collisions between trains and cars at level crossings across the state, with eight fatalities and 13 serious injuries.
"This level crossing campaign aims to improve education, awareness and compliance around level crossings. Drivers should always be alert around level crossings and never assume that because you have crossed plenty of times before with no train in sight, there won't be a train this time," she Wixx said.
Over half of all collisions at level crossings involve drivers who live within 10 kilometres of them.
"We ask all road users to not be complacent, even if you travel through the same crossing everyday - obey the road signs," she continued.
"It's not only drivers who are at risk, but pedestrians who fail to adhere to the warning lights if they choose to race a train. We want everyone to get home safely to their families.
Transport for NSW Deputy Secretary Safety, Environment and Regulation, Tara McCarthy said that trains can travel at speeds of up to 160 kilometres per hour and can take up to one-and-a-half kilometres to come to a complete stop.
"That means by the time they see you, it's often too late. Signs, flashing lights, boom gates and road markings are at level crossings for a good reason, and drivers, riders and pedestrians need to pay attention".
"We all need to look out for each other to ensure we reach our destination safely, that includes road users at level crossings."
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