A team of Rail CRC researchers at the Queensland University of
Technology have been working since 2003 to develop road safety
intervention plans to target the different behaviours of the
highest risk drivers at railway level crossings – younger
drivers, older
drivers and heavy vehicle/truck drivers. Under the banner of Rail
CRC Project 83 ‘
The development of a community intervention program for level
crossing education’
researchers have worked closely with train drivers, motorists,
government and industry groups to determine the key groups in need
of targeted education campaigns and are working to develop programs
to ultimately decrease the incidence of level crossing accidents.
According to Rail CRC Project Leader Associate Professor Jeremy
Davey from QUT, the Rail CRC project has provided the early
foundations and the impetus for a strong level of interest and
national approach by industry and government to level crossing
safety. The Australasian Railway Association (ARA) and the National
Transport Council (NTC) have moved strongly on this issue and are
now working to develop strategies to combat the incidence of level
crossing accidents across Australia.
The research team have gathered a significant amount of data,
drawing together level crossing crash statistics and working with
focus groups of Queensland train drivers to identify the ‘at
risk’ behaviour of motorists at level crossings. A broad
sample of 600 participants in Queensland has been recruited across
the highest risk driver groups - younger, older and truck drivers -
to assist develop targeted education campaigns for each group.
From the preliminary data the contrast between different driver
groups is vast - from younger drivers who have a high risk
acceptance level and are willing to violate many road rules at
level crossings to older drivers who believe they always obey road
rules and use compensatory behaviours for their decline in visual
and motor skill ability; and truck drivers who hold the view that
the design of crossings and other motorists would be the most
likely factors that would contribute to them being involved in a
collision.
In addition, when it comes to fatal level crossing crosses, 46 per
cent can be attributed to unintended driver error – more than
twice the unintended driver error factor for other fatal road
crashes, and more than 80 per cent of collisions between trains and
vehicles occur in ‘the best’ driving conditions –
in daylight, fine weather and dry road conditions.
These statistics highlight the real need for targeted education
campaigns to reverse the beliefs and behaviour of the highest
at-risk groups.
Evaluated by STEM Partnerships in 2006, the outcomes of this
project have been estimated to have the potential to deliver a
value of $4.2 million to the rail industry over the next 15 years,
and taking into account the risks involved in delivering the
outcomes, the expected value is $1.7 million. The overall benefit
of the project is obviously a reduction in level crossing
accidents. However, in addition to that specific benefits to the
rail industry include: reduction in injury and deaths; reduction in
litigation and associated costs; reduction in damage to train,
rollingstock and track; reduction in delays due to track closure; a
higher and more positive profile of the rail industry and enhanced
management of safety and operating risks, reducing OH&S costs.
The completion of the Rail CRC research project is expected in late
2007, with Rail CRC’s targeted intervention plans expected to
feed into the ARA’s work on the National Behaviour Plan and
that of the Australian Railway Crossing Strategy Implementation
Group (ARCSIG) under the auspices of the National Transport
Council.
