KEY POINTS:
New Zealand had its lowest number of rail crossing accidents in 20 years in 2006, Toll Rail said today.
In a statement, Toll said there were 15 accidents in 2006 - 20 fewer than the year before.
Toll spokeswoman Sue Foley said the lower figure followed an initiative which introduced a police presence in the cabs of trains, so motorists who ignore warning signs at crossings can be caught red-handed.
The Police in Cabs scheme started in April, and has been promoted by cricket star Chris Cairns.
Cairns lost his sister after a truck went through a crossing and hit the train she was travelling on.
Ms Foley said the attention Cairns had brought to the issue may have contributed to the big drop in accidents.
"When people registered what the impact was on Chris, it gave (the campaign) a really high profile."
She said video footage given to Toll by a member of the public, of a van driver speeding across a crossing ahead of the Tranz Alpine, had also garnered a lot of attention.
"The fact it was caught on video and dealt with by police, I think people tend to not do things if they think they're going to get caught."
- NZPA
