Risky driver behaviour at level crossings is being targeted by police in support of a campaign in parts of the state's Hunter Region.
From today (Monday 27 May) to 7 June 2019, police from Traffic and Highway Patrol Command and Newcastle Police Transport Command will be increasing police patrols at level crossings in the Hunter area.
This is part of an ongoing series of awareness and enforcement campaigns relating to level crossings - a joint initiative between the NSW Police Force and the NSW Centre for Road Safety at Transport for NSW.
During the campaign, police will be on the look-out for motorists disobeying level crossing flashing lights and stop signs, vehicles queuing over the railway tracks, speeding near level crossings and drivers who are distracted by illegal use of mobile phones.
Traffic and Highway Patrol Command's Assistant Commissioner Michael Corboy said that despite the high consequences, people are still ignoring warnings at level crossings.
"Police issued almost 1,000 penalty notices for level crossing traffic offences in the past two years."
"In our most recent campaign in Tamworth, a motorist stopped on the tracks for six seconds waiting for traffic ahead to clear and that driver was also unlicensed."
"This is why we need to continue running these localised campaigns and reinforce our Train to Stop message to motorists at level crossings".
Through the road safety campaign Towards Zero, the NSW Government is working hard to drive the road toll down by highlighting there is no acceptable number when it comes to deaths on NSW roads.
"Between July 2008 and June 2018 there were 67 collisions between trains and cars at level crossings, resulting in five people losing their lives. All of which could have been easily avoided."
Residents living in nearby areas were informed of the enforcement period through letterbox drops. Electronic billboards are now in the areas reminding motorists to take care at level crossings. The penalty for disobeying controls is three demerit points and a $448 fine.
