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Rail Safety Week kicks off to raise awareness

Annual National Rail Safety Week event has started, with organisations coming together to promote awareness and safety

August 22, 2011

National Rail Safety Week for 2011 has been launched, with the annual event bringing together organisations to educate the community about rail safety.

The initiative will run until August 28, with more than 20 Australian and New Zealand organisations working together to raise awareness on acting safely around trains.

The 2011 event will focus on level crossing safety and trespass, and the Australasian Railway Association (ARA) says the aim is to remind motorists, pedestrians, and cyclists to take extra care around railways and always practice safe behaviour.

“Rail is the safest form of land transport yet risks are present when road users behave dangerously at railway level crossings or take shortcuts along train tracks,” ARA CEO Bryan Nye says.

“On average 77 road vehicles collide with trains annually, not including pedestrian and cyclist incidents. To improve safety at and around railways we need everyone to play their part. This means always obeying road rules and never taking risks.”

Nye says the event will also be used to improve safety in the industry by raising awareness among track workers, train drivers and rail employees. Rail companies will also run initiatives aimed at employees to promote workplace safety.

A website has been set up to promote National Rail Safety Week, while Nye has also urged the public to promote safety messages among family, friends and colleagues.

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