POPULAR WORDS

The Western Australian Government will today launch a new public information campaign aimed at promoting safety at rail level and pedestrian crossings.

The initiative ties in with Rail Safety Week, which began last Friday.

The campaign will focus raising awareness among motorists and truck drivers, and comes as the State and Federal governments spend $20 million on 42 level crossing improvements throughout the region.

Western Australian Transport Minister Simon O’Brien says it is vital to put a stop to the reported 50 serious near misses which occur between trains and motorists each year.

“Crashes between trains and vehicles have a devastating effect on everyone involved and, in most cases, could have been avoided,” O’Brien says.

“The federal funding will allow the State Government to spend an additional $12.7 million in regional WA on crossings from Geraldton to Albany and Kalgoorlie to Esperance, and $1.5 million will be spent by the Public Transport Authority to upgrade sites in metropolitan area, including Byford and Serpentine.”

Of Western Australia’s 1,251 level crossings, only 84 currently have passive protection in the form of stop and give way signage.