Tram safety campaign pays off as near misses halve — but collisions rise
Adelaide’s tram drivers are being given defensive driving lessons to avoid dodgy motorists — and it’s working.
Tram drivers are being taught how to survive Adelaide’s worst drivers, and the “defensive driving” classes are already paying off.
Near-misses have been halved over the past four years – between trams and cars down from 109 to 50 and between trams and pedestrians from 112 to 55.
The Transport Department is concerned about a sharp rise in collisions from six in 2014-15 to 18 in the past financial year.
A department spokesman said there had been a “concerted effort” to teach defensive driving to tram drivers, which had reduced the near-misses.
“Tram drivers are now more aware of the patterns of cars and pedestrians,’’ the spokesman said.
“The reduction in near-misses indicates that the awareness campaigns and additional driver training are delivering positive results.’’
RAA spokesman Charles Mountain said there were ongoing safety concerns, especially in high-pedestrian traffic areas and where motorists shared a lane with trams.
“At places where motorists and trams share the road, it’s vital motorists stay out of tram corridors and avoid crossing over line markings or ‘stop’ bars for trams, because these are designed to enable trams to operate and turn across intersections safely,’’ he said.
Mr Mountain said the upgrade of tram tracks along King William St and North Tce would separate vehicles from the tram tracks in this part of the CBD, and the RAA expected fewer collisions as a result.
Motorists will have to cross the tram lane, but at each intersection where a right turn is permitted, a dedicated right turn lane, and traffic signals for vehicles, will be incorporated.
U-turns will also be permitted at intersections on the green right-turn signal.
Work is under way between Victoria Square and South Tce to tear up tram lines that have been in place since the early 1980s.
The project is also converting the shared tram/vehicle corridor into a dedicated tram corridor by changing bicycle and traffic lanes and cutting the number of parking spaces.
Right turns for motorists off King William St will also be cut, with the only remaining turns northbound into South Tce, Gilles St and Carrington St. Southbound right turns will be allowed into Gouger St and Sturt St.
Mr Mountain said motorists may think intersections were the most problematic for accidents, but this was not the case.
“RAA urges pedestrians to take extra care when crossing roads where trams operate, and stay well clear of them as they move away,’’ he said.
“Collisions involving trams and pedestrians have occurred near busy pedestrian areas, such as the intersections at King William and Hindley streets, and Grenfell and King William streets, as well as along Jetty Rd in Glenelg.
“We’re also noticing that collisions between cars and trams have occurred in areas where cars and trams share a road lane.”