Alarming increase in number of fines at level crossings

Motorists are shelling out more than a million dollars in fines every year and risking their lives as they try to beat trains and trams at level crossings.

• Adelaide’s new speed, red light camera locations revealed
• Cops catch nearly 500 distracted drivers in five days

Motorists are increasingly dicing with death by trying to beat trains at level crossings, new figures reveal.

In the past two years the number of motorists detected by cameras at fixed rail crossings has increased by 70 per cent from 1240 to 2050.

Drivers racked up $1.024 million in fines during 2018-19 from entering a level crossing while warning lights and bells were operating.

The RAA has released a list of the crossings where drivers were most often caught by cameras.

Top of the list is the Cormack Rd crossing at Wingfield, where 460 drivers were fined $213,000 in the past financial year.

Two crossings on Leader St at Goodwood accounted for almost 800 fines totalling more than $350,000.

RAA Road Safety senior manager Charles Mountain called for motorists to be patient when trains and trams were moving through level crossings.

“Motorists shouldn’t try to beat the lights,” Mr Mountain told The Advertiser.

“While it can be frustrating, slow-moving traffic is never an excuse for crossing the tracks illegally.

“Drivers should come to a complete stop when the lights have started flashing and not proceed until they have ceased.

“Pedestrians should also be alert around level crossings and avoid distractions.’’

Mr Mountain called for upgrades at Park Tce at Salisbury, Kings Rd at Salisbury Downs and Cormack Rd at Dry Creek to increase crossing safety.

Millions of dollars were pledged in the June State Budget to upgrade level crossings at Brighton Rd at Hove and Torrens Rd at Ovingham to improve traffic flows and road safety.