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Innovative and Cooperative Approach to Improve Safety

at Rail Level Crossings in Australia

Phil SochonDeputy CEO

Australasian Railway Association

International Rail Safety Conference

GOAOctober 2007

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Presentation Outline

Road user causal factors

The behavioural challenge - New national approach?

Road user behavioural survey

Education and enforcement pilot

Future national LX management

Learnings

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Lismore

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Impact

Most serious safety concern faced by the Australian rail system

Approx.100 collisions (trains VS vehicles)

Emerging trend involving heavy vehicles– 17 months, 12 Collisions, 17 fatalities– more than $100 million in damages

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Collisions Profile

Ref: 'Level Crossing Accident Fatalities', Australian Transport Safety Bureau , 2002

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Situations

Ref: 'Prospects for Improving the Conspicuity of Trains at Passive Railway Crossings ', Draft Report

RC 2748‑1, ARRB, September 2002. Note – some crash data unknown

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Causal Factors

Ref: 'Level Crossing Accidents', Monograph 10, ATSB, 2002

Causal Factors Fatal level crossing crashes

Other fatal road crashes

Adverse weather or road conditions

13% 9%

Alcohol/drugs 9% 31%

Fatigue 3% 8%

Driver error (unintended)

46% 22%

Excessive speed 7% 23%

Other risk taking 3% 5%

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Road User Error & Violation

The Behavioural Challenge

– Low level of jurisdiction activities to address road user behaviour

– Lack of national coordinated programs

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Ban Ban Springs

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Kerang

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Rail Network in Australia

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Lack of National Coordinated Road Safety Programs

Low priority for road agencies Data

– Pedestrian fatalities – rail toll – Vehicles fatalities – road toll

Ambiguity in the responsibilities of stakeholders at level crossings.

Rail industry tried to control non-rail entities (vehicles and pedestrians), over which it has no jurisdiction or funding.

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Australian Railway Crossing Strategy Implementation Group

(ARCSIG)

National Railway Level Crossing Safety Strategy formed in response to major level crossing crashes in 2003.

ARCSIG formed to oversee activities under the Strategy. – dual-modal (road and rail) membership.

ARCSIG identified the need for awareness and education programs as part of a large program.

ARA agreed to lead development of education and awareness

– Initially focused on the Operation Lifesaver – Initial approach to State Government Transport Ministers was

unsuccessful in gaining support. – New approach was adopted.

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New Approach

Address Road User Behaviour National level Rail lead / coordinate Engage road authorities in all jurisdictionsProposal to ATC, approved for 2 years

(asked for 5 years)

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Need for National Behavioural Strategy

Benefits of national behavioural programs

– improve safety at all railway level crossings – value for money (pooling resources)– economy of scale– greater impact of the messages– programs based on better research, will be better

targeted, resulting in the most cost effective outcomes.

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Behavioural Coordination Group (BCG)

Governance

BCG

Senior Road Safety Managers

Rail Industry via ARA

National Transport Commission

Australasian TrafficPolice Forum

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Key deliverables

National Survey

Education & Enforcement Pilot

National Workshop

Inventory

Webpage

Benchmarking community attitudes/behaviour at level crossings – November 07

Establish ground rules to aid development & implementation of education & enforcement

Information exchange, February 08

Existing behavioural programs in Australia and overseas, update annually

One stop shop, available October 07

Behavioural ProgramsState mass media and community education programs

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National Road User Survey

Objective– Identify awareness and attitudes of road users towards level

crossings.

Phases – Qualitative – 3 focus groups, 25 telephone & Face to Face

Interviews (1 hour)– Quantitative – 4,400 telephone interviews, – Urban, Urban fringe, Rural/Regional, Remote – All jurisdictions

Special groups – High risk groups i.e. young drivers, heavy vehicle drivers– Disabilities

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National Survey

Quantitative Questions: What factors come to mind which may contribute to

unsafe conditions or crashes at RLCs? How long is a reasonable time to wait at an RLC? Have you ever crossed a RLC and not been aware of it

until afterwards? How likely are you to be penalised for rule-breaking

behaviour at an RLC as compared to speeding? Can you tell me if there is a difference in what you do

when approaching the two types of crossings?

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Education & Enforcement Pilot

Objective – to develop guidelines for effective, practical and sustainable

enforcement and community education programs at level crossings, for use across all jurisdictions.

Key stakeholders – governments– railway companies – transport safety organisations– police– community road safety councils.

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Victoria – Sites: 4 trial sites + 4 controlled sites in metro, regional, rural– Measurements of traffic behaviour

• pre-trial• post-trial

– Trial• education • enforcement

– Evaluation & Analysis – Report / guidelines – Roll out to other jurisdictions

Northern Territory – report company based initiative

Education & Enforcement Pilot

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Way Forward

ARCSIG good initial governance model, but • no senior government support, • no funding to execute significant level crossing programs • low level representation of road management agencies

BCG governance more responsive and effective at a national level but lacks

• long term focus, • coverage of all related level crossing aspects

ARA proposes the establishment of a new management group, Australian Level Crossing Action Group (ALCAG)

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Australian Level Crossing Action Group

ATC

SCOT

Road Group Rail Group

ALCAG (ARCSIG)Chair: Rail Gp (co chair Road Gp)

National LX Safety Strategy (5 yrs)

$400 K + Executive Director + Project Manager

BCG Projects

ResearchTasking

ITS DataInfo &

ResourcesInfrastructure

StandardsEnforcement ALCAMEvaluation

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Learning: Strategic Alliances and

Partnership Vital

Partnership approach between Industry, Government, road, rail & the police – Note: Canada’s Direction 2006 model.

Benefits: – Stakeholders managing those aspects best suited to

their competencies – Expertise of each stakeholder can be drawn upon as

necessary, allowing the development and delivery of better programs.

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Learning:Use Existing Road Safety

Mechanisms Benefits:

– The messages are delivered to local communities through Community Road Safety Councils

– Less resource intensive

– More cost effective

– Local communities are well informed

– A sense of community responsibility for safer road user behaviour is created

– Highly practical and sustainable

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Share National Level Crossing Behavioural Strategy and findings of survey and targeted education and enforcement program

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What can we do for you?

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Potential for Catastrophe

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Thank you

Phil Sochon

Deputy CEO & Manager Government Relations

Australasian Railway Association

Tel: + 61 2 6270 4503

Email: psochon@ara.net.au

Web: www.ara.net.au