Level crossing safety is serious

Ignoring level crossing signals and damaging boom gates or other rail equipment now carries the same demerit points as driving 30km/h over the speed limit or a learner driving without a supervisor.

Transport and Main Roads Minister Scott Emerson said imposing a four-point demerit loss and maximum $8,800 fine for two new rail crossing road rules showed how seriously the Newman Government viewed level crossing safety.

“These new rules are sending a very clear message to all those careless drivers who deliberately ignore signals – a gamble against the boom gates is gambling your licence, your wallet and your life,” Mr Emerson said.

“This year alone, there have been nearly 200 incidents of vehicles damaging boom gates or bridges, causing commuter chaos for tens of thousands of passengers.

“Often at more than $5,000 each, taxpayer funded repair bills for these avoidable incidents has quickly mounted into the hundreds of thousands of dollars.

“We only need to look at the tragic incident earlier this month where a truck collided with a train at a Melbourne level crossing, killing one person and injuring nine others to see how serious these offences are.

“Running the gauntlet at these crossings is simply not worth the risk.”

Mr Emerson said the new rules, which take effect from 30 November, related to:

• damaging rail infrastructure at a railway crossing, and
• causing an obstruction to trains or other drivers at a level crossing

The new offences carry a maximum penalty of $8,800, an infringement notice fine of $880 and four demerit points.

[ENDS] 29 November 2012
Media contact: Stephanie Shield 0418 186 625