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International Rail Safety Conference GOA October 2007. Innovative and Cooperative Approach to Improve Safety at Rail Level Crossings in Australia Phil Sochon Deputy CEO Australasian Railway Association. Presentation Outline. Road user causal factors - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
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www.ara.net.au
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
www.ara.net.au
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
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