Every year many people are killed or injured at railway level crossings. This is a problem that goes back to the very beginnings of rail operations.
In the very early days, people could be forgiven for acting unsafe around trains, as they were new, unfamiliar, and most certainly a bit frightening. Over the years, many millions of dollars have been spent on studying the problem, and trying to find solutions that would work. They came up with numerous solutions that included laws and regulations to try and help improve safety. For the most part these were fairly successful, but ... Any system, be it rules, laws, standards, etc is only as effective as those who will be following them. If everyone follows the system, then it will succeed, but if no one follows the rules, even the most ideal system will breakdown, and fail. Of course, many will blame the system, and not actually try to identify where the breakdown truly is. Mostly because they know deep down that they will be the one identified as the problem and will have to do something themselves to solve the problem. It is so much easier to blame someone else, or blur the true cause, than it is to fix it themselves.
Currently there are too many people who don't fully realise that they are the one's responsible for their own safety. Their feeling is that the Government, or large corporations, or that someone else should be responsible. They will then complain that there is too much red tape, and regulation. I am not advocating that the Government, Corporations or individuals do not have a duty of care to ensure the safety of those in their care, employ, or those visiting/travelling with them. What I am saying is that everyone is responsible. The Government, and Companies only have laws, regulations, standards, etc in order to ensure the safety of those in their care. They try to legislate out the stupidity, apathy, inattention, etc. of those they wish to protect. They bring out more restrictive rules, with stiffer penalties in an effort to get people to be responsible for their own safety. The Government can only educate (assuming people actually want to learn), and pass legislation when it wishes people to either change what they do, or to improve the safety of what people are doing. So when it comes to road safety, the Government came up with the "Road Rules". The Road Rules deals with all aspects of driving motor vehicles, and how to deal with level crossings in particular. They are quite clear, and fairly easy to understand with regards to level crossings.
In case anyone isn't sure about what the Queensland road rules say for level crossings, (for those in other jurisdictions, I'm pretty sure that the road rules in your area will be very similar) here's a link to them: http://www.legislation.qld.gov.au/LEGISLTN/CURRENT/T/TrantOpRURR09.pdf (look on page 130).
To paraphrase them, a driver is not to enter a level crossing when a train is coming. The train has right of way, plain and simple. A level crossing is only to be entered when it is safe to do so, and you will not be blocking the track whatsoever. You are not to enter a level crossing, unless the way ahead is clear, and you will not be blocking the level crossing. How much simpler does it need to be ?? When some people couldn't figure it out, or were just so self-possessed that they don't care about how their actions impact on others, an incident/accident happens at a level crossing. Someone is either killed, injured, or traumatised and the cry goes out for more concrete methods to prevent level crossing incidents.
Because the laws (road rules), and good sense (I won't say common sense, as sense isn't very common) weren't enough to prevent these incidents/accidents, one of the first things trialled were give way signs. Naturally these failed to prevent incidents/accidents from happening, so these were replaced by stop signs, which were then replaced by red flashing lights, and finally these were replaced by boom gates that included flashing red lights. So what comes next to stop people from entering a level crossing when a train is coming ?? If someone is not bright enough to stop when there are not only red flashing lights, but a great big bloody red/white stripped boom gate (with flashing red lights too) drops in front of them, what else can they do ?? Not to mention the pedestrian barriers that were installed to prevent people from just walking out in front of a train.
There are cries to remove all level crossings, or to install boom gates at all level crossings. These will help reduce the incidents. They will cost you the taxpayer plenty though. We already have the answer, and it doesn't cost us taxpayers 1 cent. That's right folks, follow the rules, and there will not be anyone killed, or injured, or traumatised at a level crossing anywhere. It will free up millions of dollars that could be better used in the healthcare system, or in educating our children, or doing something else for the community at large.
In conclusion, every single level crossing incident/accident is preventable. There is no excuse for occupying a level crossing, let alone when a train is approaching. If the way ahead is not clear, and you will be forced to stop blocking a level crossing, do not enter it. Only enter a level crossing when the way ahead is clear. It's a very simple concept.
I do realise people's time is valuable, but what is a few minutes, when compared to the alternative?? I have a feeling that most people who caused a level crossing incident/accident thought that it would never happen to them. They were too smart for that.
