TasRail releases video of near misses at level crossings around Tasmania

Tasmanian drivers have recklessly put lives at risk and left train drivers traumatised by racing across train lines, with just seconds to spare. See the video of 19 shocking near misses.

Impatient Tasmanian drivers have put their own lives at risk, and left train drivers traumatised, by racing through railway crossings just second before a locomotive.

For Rail Safety Week, TasRail has released video of 19 near misses at level crossings around the state as part of the organisations campaign ‘What's it going to take?’

TasRail has released vision of 19 near misses. Image: TasRail.

“It’s literally a second between people going home safely to their family and not,” TasRail risk and compliance principal Corrie Summers said.

“We’re seeing some concerning risk taking behaviours, particularly people stopping and seeing a training coming and rushing through anyway.

“We’re also seeing people on foot running across in front of a train to get across quicker.”

TasRail Corrie Summers. Picture: Chris Kidd

In the 2023-24 financial year there were 68 reports of vehicles or pedestrians which failed to stop and give way at level crossings.

The number is nearly twice that of the previous reporting period, when 39 incidents were recorded.

There were also two collisions: One between a car and a heavy vehicle at Westbury in April and another at Stony Rise, when a car became stuck on the tracks in May.

“The noise was penetrating and I was like ‘what just happened,” TasRail driver Jarrod said of the Westbury crash.

“It felt like it lasted forever, and I think it was all over within 35 seconds.

“Every time I get on a loco now I’m always thinking about that initial impact with a truck because it’s never going to go away.”

Ms Summers said the impact was lasting for drivers like Jarrod.

“’The trauma this creates for our drivers is on par with an actual incident,” she said.

TasRail has released vision of 19 near misses. Image: TasRail.

“They’re praying at every level crossing that people stop and they don’t try and beat them.

“Some days are really good we see people stopping and waving to the driver, other days it’s zero regard for the [drivers].

Ms Summers said the region with the highest increase in incidents was the state’s North, where 20 of the incidents were recorded.

It’s an increase of 16 upon the previous years numbers.

Forty-two instances were in the North West, which is known for usually having the most incidents.

“We’re trying very hard to get the message out there but there’s this underlying sense of urgency behind every motorist decision,” Ms Summers said.

“This is where we need he community to really step up and abide by the law.

“We want to make sure people share this campaign with their families and make it a habit of looking for level crossings.”