Level crossings can be lethal, drivers told

A campaign to increase awareness at rail crossings has been welcomed by a former Wairarapa train driver, road-safety advocates and mayors.

A train carriage-sized safety billboard was unveiled at the Wiltons Rd crossing on Tuesday, as part of a campaign to take drivers off "autopilot" at rural rail crossings.

The billboard and three "expect a train" warning signs will be at the Carterton crossing for three months, before being moved to other high-risk rural crossings included the campaign.

Organisers said the site was chosen as the first location for the billboard because two fatal collisions had occurred there since May 2002.

Retired train driver Luke Wilton attended the launch to view the billboard and said he supported any move that made crossings more visible.

"Anything that draws attention - the rumble strips are a good idea too," he said.

During his 32 years in the job, which included the Woodville and Masterton routes, five cars had been driven into trains he was driving. Three deaths resulted.

A train driver could do little to prevent a collision, he said.

"You don't expect them to drive into the side of you ... you can't stop - it takes quite a distance to stop."

Masterton mayor Lyn Patterson, Carterton mayor John Booth, Wairarapa and Wellington police officers and Wairarapa road-safety advocates also attended the launch.

Wairarapa Road Safety Council project co-ordinator Holly McGregor said the campaign was a good way to raise awareness about keeping safe around trains: "They are a lot bigger than a car and they are mechanical, and even though someone is driving the train they have to be able to stop."

Children should be taught about rail safety at an early age, she said.

"If they start learning safety processes around trains it instils in them when they are older."

Mr Booth hailed the campaign and spoke of the crossing's two "terrible tragedies".

"Anything that can lessen the impact on a family losing a loved one is very welcome ... the impact on the families is the worst thing when you have fatal accident of any kind, so to have these initiatives is extremely welcome," he said.

NZTA national rail-safety manager Debbie Despard said the campaign had been designed to reduce risky behaviour, such as failing to look properly at crossings.

"Each year lives are lost at level crossings like this. Fatalities are preventable and they have a devastating effect," she said.

Full attention at rail crossings was the only option and motorists had to get "out of autopilot".