Media release

Wednesday 6 June 2012

“The Most Important Stop of the Day”

A major rail safety campaign is being launched tomorrow aimed at reducing the number of near collisions between heavy vehicles and trains.

Rail safety charity the Chris Cairns Foundation has developed the campaign as part of International Level Crossing Awareness Day (ILCAD) being held at over 42 countries around the world.

The New Zealand campaign will target thousands of truck and bus drivers throughout New Zealand – promoting safe driving behaviour and reminding them of the care required when driving over level crossings.

A collision with a heavy vehicle represents the greatest risk to human life from a road accident, according to rail safety campaigner Chris Cairns.

“Not only are heavy vehicle drivers at enormous risk themselves if they are involved in a collision with a train, but there is the potential for catastrophic harm to rail passengers if a truck were to collide with a passenger train.”

There have been over 250 near collisions between heavy vehicles and trains since 2004 and in over half of these cases, there were flashing lights and bells operating at the time the incidents were reported by the train drivers. There have been 35 actual collisions.

“The most important stop of the day” is the message the campaign will deliver to truck and bus drivers, reminding them that if flashing lights and bells are activated at a crossing then they have a legal obligation to stop.

Chris Cairns’ sister Louise was killed in a level crossing collision in 1993 when a concrete mixer truck drove through flashing lights and bells and into the side of a passenger train. Two other women also died.

The laws relating to heavy vehicles are much the same as those that apply to standard motor vehicles. However some heavy vehicles have additional legal requirements at particular level crossings.

For example, large passenger buses and all school buses, regardless of their size, are legally required to stop at level crossings protected by Give Way signs, as well as those controlled by Stop signs. This rule also applies to heavy vehicles carrying certain dangerous goods.

The Foundation will be reaching truck and bus drivers by collaborating with the major road industry organisations, including the Road Transport Forum, NZ Trucking Association, the Road Transport Association and National Road Carriers.

“We are very grateful to have the crucial support of these organisations to help us get the message out there,” says Chris Cairns.

Police are also supporting the campaign, and urge all motorists to take care at level crossings.

“We fully encourage New Zealand's commercial drivers to refresh themselves of the rules and obligations that are outlined in the drivers’ safety guide. The few seconds taken to check and double check can save a lifetime of pain,” says Inspector Mark Stables of the NZ Police.

The campaign includes a poster, a drivers’ safety guide and a roadside billboard campaign. The campaign is also supported by KiwiRail who sponsors the Chris Cairns Foundation.

All campaign information will also be available to download from the Foundation’s rail safety website www.railsafety.co.nz.

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