Heavy Metal stops for no-one - QR launches level crossing safety campaign

The Palaszczuk Government is onboard with Queensland Rail’s new level crossing safety campaign, ‘heavy metal stops for no one’.

Its purpose is to capture the attention of road users and drive down the rate of level crossing infringements across the state, and uses a heavy metal rock band to represent the impact of an oncoming train.

Minister for Transport and Main Roads Mark Bailey said the launch of the new campaign followed a 33 per cent increase in the number of ‘near miss’ incidents reported at Queensland Rail level crossings in the 2017-18 financial year.

“Last year, an alarming 248 road users were reported experiencing a near miss between their vehicle or themselves and a train at Queensland Rail level crossings as a result of disobeying warning signs and signals,” Mr Bailey said.

“This is in addition to 127 incidents last financial year, when road users collided with level crossing infrastructure in place for their protection, such as boom gates.

“Our new campaign will be aiming to capture the attention of Queensland road users and drive home the message that trains are heavy metal juggernauts that travel at speed and cannot stop in a hurry for anyone.

“Obeying the signs and signals at level crossings isn’t optional, and making a dash across the tracks to save yourself a few minutes isn’t worth the risk of losing your life.”

Mr Bailey said Queensland Rail’s new campaign would feature artwork of a 1980s heavy metal band representing a heavy, fast and loud oncoming train. 

“The campaign involves a heavy metal rock band approaching road users who are disobeying the signs and signals at a level crossing and shocking them with a heavy metal song featuring Queensland Rail’s safety messages,” Minister Bailey said. 

“Ultimately, we want to see the number of near hits at level crossings reduced to zero, and this campaign will be aiming to capture the attention of Queensland road users and encourage them to rethink their behaviour next time they’re at a level crossing. 

“The campaign will be the feature of Queensland Rail’s pavilion at this year’s EKKA, fit with heavy metal face painting, temporary tattoos, and a rock star karaoke competition, in a bid to engage the more than 400,000 people expected to walk through the event’s gates in 2018. 

“The campaign will also be rolled out to train stations, road-side billboards, and social media as part of Rail Safety Week, and will continue through Queensland Rail’s ongoing rail safety education program which engaged more than 37,000 students last financial year.” 

For more information on Queensland Rail’s ‘heavy metal’ campaign and safety at level crossings visit: www.queenslandrail.com.au/heavymetal 

Rail Safety Week runs from 13-19 August 2018: https://tracksafefoundation.com.au/rail-safety-week/ 

Level crossing infringement statistics 2017-18

ENDS

Media contact: Dominic Geiger, 0447355565