Level crossings in the central west of NSW will be the target of a safety crackdown.
Police in New South Wales will spend the next two weeks focusing on safety at level crossings in the central west of the State.
A new campaign will run from November 18 to December 1 involving police patrols of the Newell Highway level crossings at Welcome and Tichborne, between Parkes and Forbes.
It is part of an ongoing series of safety campaigns relating to level crossings, with police aiming to reduce the number of collisions on the 1,400 public level crossings in NSW.
Police will patrol for motorists using risky behaviour such as ignoring warning lights and signs, those speeding near level crossings and using mobile phones while driving.
“Taking risks at level crossings is dangerous and can be deadly, but we still see some motorists ignoring the warnings,” senior sergeant Mick Timms says.
There were 118 collisions involving trains and road vehicles at level crossings in NSW between 2001-2002 and 2013-2014.
Timms says there have been five near hits at the Tichborne level crossing in the past four years.
In 2013, NSW Police issued 392 penalty notices for level-crossing offences, an increase of 45 per cent over the previous year.
Research from the Office of the National Rail Safety Regulator shows there can be up to 10 near hit incidents involving trains and a motor vehicle, pedestrian or bicycle rider every month.
“Using caution, avoiding distraction and sticking to the speed limit is important to ensure drivers negotiate these crossings safely,” Timms says.