KiwiRail alarm at near miss crashes

TOO CLOSE: A car dodging past stopped cars in front of a train at the Renall St crossing in Masterton is one of nearly 20 near misses so far this year in New Zealand.PHOTO/LYNDA FERINGA

Near collisions between motorists and trains at level crossings - 19 near misses already recorded in January - are alarming KiwiRail and police.

The close calls include an incident in Masterton in which a car overtook traffic waiting at the Renall St level crossing and passed over the crossing at speed.

Kiwirail says 12 of the near misses were at crossings similar to Renall St, with flashing lights and bells, and in four incidents a vehicle overtook stationary vehicles to cross.

In one instance a motorist had to swerve to avoid the train, while another was just 10m in front of the train, KiwiRail chief executive Jim Quinn said.

"We are horrified to think motorists would deliberately put themselves, and any passengers they may have in such grave danger," he said.

"There is no journey so important that it can't wait a couple of minutes."

Trains were large and heavy and could be travelling faster than they appeared and simply couldn't stop quickly, Mr Quinn said.

"There is nothing our train drivers can do when confronted with a situation like this other than to sound their horn, and hope for the best. It is a very distressing situation for them.

"We urge motorists to heed the level-crossing alarms, never enter a crossing if they can see a train approaching, but be patient and wait for it to pass."

National rail safety charity TrackSAFE NZ (formerly the Chris Cairns Foundation) also urges the New Zealand public to exercise caution at level crossings.

"Unfortunately if people continue to engage in the reckless and impatient behaviour that we have already seen this year, then it is only a matter of time before we potentially have another tragedy on the railway."

When train drivers were able to get the registration details of vehicles those were passed on to the police to follow up on, and the motorist involved could be prosecuted.

Police Inspector Mark Stables said level-crossing alarms and signs were there for the safety of motorists and it was an offence to ignore them. "All level crossings have some protection. Whether the crossing has flashing lights and bells or a Give Way or Stop sign, motorists should approach and behave at level crossings in the same way as they would a road intersection."

In 2013 KiwiRail recorded 107 near collisions with vehicles at level crossings . Nearly half of those occurred at crossings with flashing lights and bells operating and 40 per cent at crossings with half arm barriers operating. The remaining 16 per cent of near collisions occurred at crossings with either a Give Way or Stop sign.

In 2012 154 near collisions were reported by rail staff and most were at crossings with active protection.

An unprotected rail crossing, in Wiltons Rd, Carterton, has been the scene of two fatalities, in 2002 and 2013.