Level crossing camera trialled at Macaulay Road near Kensington station

A high tech camera will lead the way in cracking down on reckless drivers who flout level-crossing signals. Here’s which suburb is being targeted first.

Reckless drivers who ­ignore level-crossing signals will be nabbed using a next-generation camera from Monday in a trial that may lead to deployment of the technology.

The camera has been ­installed at the Macaulay Road level crossing near Kensington station.

It uses stills and video footage to capture vehicles ignoring the lights, queuing over the crossing, stopping on the tracks and weaving between boom gates. Those speeding are also recorded.

No fines or warning notices will be issued during a three-month trial. But authorities will use information gathered to decide whether the camera can be used for enforcement long-term.

Similar technology could be rolled out at other level crossings across Victoria if the trial is successful.

Public Transport and Roads and Road Safety Minister Ben Carroll said while many level crossings had been removed it was vital to improve safety at those that remained.

“Unsafe driving around level crossings not only delays trains, it can cause collisions leading to injury and death,’’ Mr Carroll said.

A new traffic camera installed at Macaulay Rd Kensington. Picture: Andrew Henshaw

“We have already removed 45 dangerous and congested level crossings in metropolitan Melbourne and this trial is ­another way to ensure other crossings are as safe as they can be.”

The Macaulay Road crossing was chosen for the trial ­because it is notorious for unsafe driving and near misses between trains and vehicles.

A survey at the site — conducted on a weekday outside peak hour — found eight ­instances of unsafe driving in just 30 minutes.

Rail infrastructure authority VicTrack — in conjunction with the Department of Transport and the Department of Justice and Community Safety — is driving the project.

It’s an initiative of the Victorian Railway Crossing Safety Steering Committee, led by the Department of Transport.

Its hoped the camera will catch motorists driving through the level crossing at Kensington station. Picture: Andrew Henshaw

It has representatives of VicTrack, Metro Trains, V/Line, Australian Rail Track Corporation, the Level Crossing ­Removal Project and police.

The Herald Sun revealed in July the new technology was on the way.

There were 64 ­incidents involving vehicles at crossings last financial year, and 24 have been recorded since July 1.

Victoria’s only other level-crossing camera — at Bagshot on the Midland Highway northeast of Bendigo — uses traditional speed and red-light technology.

Ignoring level crossing signals attracts a $661 fine in Victoria.