Drivers ignore rail warnings
QR NATIONAL is pleading with motorists to play it safe following a spate of serious incidents at a Blackwater level crossing.
These near-misses come just a month after a tilt train collided with a ute at a level crossing in central Rockhampton and show an alarming trend in people's attitude towards rail safety.
Senior vice-president safety, health and environment Neil Backer said it was clear motorists were ignoring QR calls for vigilance at level crossings.
"In the past four weeks alone there have been four incidents at Ardurad Rd where trucks have either hit the overhead wires or run into the boom gates," he said.
"We are also dealing with people who go through red flashing lights or drive around the boom gates and onto the track, often narrowly missing being hit by one of our trains."
Mr Backer said footage gained from the camera at the crossing could be passed on to police and QR National would be seeking to recover the costs of the repairs and delays from the offenders.
"We have hundreds of trains travelling on our networks in Queensland coal fields and those coal trains do not stick to timetables," he said.
"Remember a train always has right of way."
"The message is particularly pertinent during this school holiday period when there are more cars on the road and we ask all motorists to be aware of the dangers."
On average there are two people each year killed at level crossings, and there were five killed in two notorious level crossing incidents in 2008.
