Rail Safety Week: Take another moment to look

A railway crossing on Forkert Road in Ōhaupō.

Take another moment to look for trains at railway tracks and level crossings - that’s one of the messages from police as Rail Safety Week officially continues.

The annual awareness event, which is led by KiwiRail and TrackSafe and supported by partnering organisations, runs from August 7-13 and urges everyone to always keep a look out for trains.

”It might sound like a simple request, but we can’t afford to become complacent,” says National Road Policing Centre director Superintendent Steve Greally.

”Trains can come at any time and from either direction, and recent unfortunate events across the country act as a timely reminder for road users and pedestrians to take further care at railway crossings.

”Police continue to support Rail Safety Week and, along with our partners, realise the significance of working together to reduce the harm and lasting trauma that collisions can cause.”

Steve says the week-long campaign focuses on encouraging safe behaviours and emphasising the risks around railways. ”It’s vital road users are paying attention to train tracks.”

Crucial behaviours like stopping at a stop sign, obeying the bells, lights and barriers, not being distracted by your phone and crossing only when alarms have stopped are all things to focus on for improving our safety in these areas.

”It’s equally important for pedestrians to cross tracks at level crossings and have that extra look left and right, just like you would when crossing the road.

“It can be the difference between a near miss or a devastating collision,” says Steve. ”Those precious seconds and changes to behaviours could save your life.”