Train drivers call for greater safety

COLLISIONS between trains and cars occur 29 times a year and almost all of these accidents could be avoided, according to V/Line.Richard Fletcher, a train driver of 25 years, said he was still amazed at how many people risked their own lives by ignoring safety measures.“A bloke pulled up at Holdsworth Road intersection, the lights and bells were working, he had a look and saw how far away the train was from the crossing and drove across,” Mr Fletcher said.“As he did this he wound down his window and gave me a wave.“Crossings are something you should not be gambling with; once the lights and bells are going it only takes about eight seconds before the train enters the crossing.“Trains can’t stop like a car.”The Bendigo-based V/Line driver has been involved in many incidents - including one fatality, which he did not wish to discuss - but warned that complacency was the biggest killer.Last year 17 people were killed at level crossings. V/Line and its drivers are spruiking a safety message at level crossings as part of National Rail Safety Week.V/Line spokesman Daniel Moloney said so many accidents could easily be avoided.“The issue at country crossings is complacency; this is what gets people killed,” Mr Moloney said. “By taking a few seconds out of their day to slow down, deaths could easily be avoided.”Mr Fletcher said crashes had a serious impact on drivers, and many blamed themselves for deaths even though it was not their fault.Mr Fletcher’s main message to the public was for them to realise trains were hard to stop.“Even doing 120kmh it still takes 300-400 metres to pull up, so people need to give trains more respect,” he said.“People ignore signs when they walk, too - all they have to do is trip over - it doesn’t take long to travel 50 metres and they are run over, they are gone.”Of serious concern is the fact people even ignore barrier gates.“Even boom gates don’t stop some people, they just drive around them and keep going - they are just crazy,” Mr Fletcher said.