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INCIDENT INVESTIGATIONS The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) is Australia's agency for transport safety investigations. Click on the following links to access ATSB level crossing incident investigations:
The ATSB recently conducted an investigation into 12 level crossing crashes between motor vehicles and trains that occurred in Australia between April 2006 and December 2007. A Government review and accompanying Safety Bulletin was initiated in an effort to publicly highlight Australia’s railway level crossing issue. A total of 19 lives were lost with 60 people injured in the 12 collisions examined. In almost every incident, it was found the vehicle driver failed to comply with traffic control measures. Fatigue, complacency, sighting problems, distraction and the expectation not to encounter a train were identified as underlying factors contributing to motorist’s failure to stop and give-way to trains. Noting a train driver’s inability to minimise or avoid collisions due to train operational limitations, the study highlights the need for other level crossing safety measures, notably behavioural programs rather than solely relying on level crossing safety infrastructure. To access the safety bulletin, click here. |