The bureau suggests safety tips for truck drivers to avoid level crossing collisions with freight trains
The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) has released a report on a 2021 truck/ freight crash in Western Australia to prevent further instances and provide information for truck drivers regarding driving safety.
A road-train, comprising of a prime mover and three tipper trailers, entered Kalgoorlie’s Yarri Road, Parkeston level crossing in front of a freight train in February 2021, causing the collision that resulted in serious injuries.
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The ATSB has released an image detailing its key findings from the WA 2021 crash
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An ATSB safety review investigated the characteristics and circumstances of the level crossing collision involving the train and heavy vehicle to recommend safety tips for all freight operators to avoid similar crashes in future.
The review found the driver of the truck was distracted by reaffixing their mobile phone mount to their vehicle’s windscreen before the truck entered an active level crossing and collided with the freight train.
The ATSB says the assumption drawn from this information is that the truck driver likely didn’t see the train coming until it was too late to stop before colliding with the freight vehicle.
The two-train crew including a driver and tutor driver sustained serious injuries, while the truck and train were both substantially damaged due to the train derailing and coming to a rest about 40 metres from the impact point.
“Approaching the Yarri Road level crossing from the south, drivers need to look ahead and across a curve to see the active crossing lights,” ATSB director of transport safety Dr Michael Walker says.
“Because of the effects of the distraction, the truck driver was probably only looking at the section of road directly ahead of the vehicle, contributing to them not identifying the flashing lights until it was too late to stop.”
According to the ATSB review, the truck driver was reattaching a dash-mounted mobile phone cradle while trying to place the mobile phone in the cradle, meaning the driver’s attention was diverted from the road for critical periods ahead of the level crossing.
The ATSB says the level crossing design wasn’t the issue, with Walker saying it “was consistent with the applicable Australian standard and provided sufficient opportunity for attentive drivers to identify the flashing light level crossing controls and stop”.
The investigation notes the truck driver was familiar with the route but hadn’t encountered a train at that level crossing before, with the ATSB saying it’s a timely reminder for truck operators and businesses to stress paying attention and remaining safe on the roads to its drivers.
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“Given the size and weight of most trains, the onus to take action to avoid a level crossing collision rests almost entirely on the road vehicle user,” Walker says.
There have been 11 collisions between heavy road vehicles and trains at level crossings across Australia between July 2020 and June 2021, with 23 such collisions occurring over the past five years.
“In 2021, the ATSB commenced a safety study into level crossing collisions involving trains and heavy road vehicles in Australia,” Walker says.
“The study is on-going and includes a review of previous collisions to determine their characteristics and circumstances, and also determine if there are any unidentified systemic safety issues or learning opportunities that could enhance the safety of future transport operations.”