Safe pedestrian behaviour is one of the most serious safety issues faced by railways in Australia. (Nationally on average 24 pedestrians die each year from collisions with trains)
TransAdelaide and the South Australian Police conduct the SafeTrack program for schools, which is aimed at reducing the number of rail related incidents involving students. The key objective of the program is to educate and increase awareness about safe and appropriate behaviour in and around the metropolitan rail system.

While the program is suitable for students in all year levels, SafeTrack is particularly valuable for students in years 6 and 7. Students at this age are more likely to be making independent and unsupervised journeys near rail corridors, either as pedestrian, cyclist or passenger.

The SafeTrack program enables the school to play a key role in the identification of rail travel issues and educating young people to the potential risks and hazards associated with inappropriate behaviour. SafeTrack aims to assist students to become confident and responsible travellers.

Level Crossing Safety

Knowing how to act safely and appropriately on trains, trams and around the rail system is important. That is why TransAdelaide and the South Australian police have an educational program called SafeTrack. There is a false perception in the community that level crossing accidents are due to a lack of safety systems, when the truth is more incidents occur at level crossings with active protection.

Motorists and pedestrians need to be aware that the same rules apply at rail level crossings as normal road intersections – they need to obey road rules. Educating the community in safe behaviour around level crossings is the best way to further reduce the number of fatalities.
When at a rail level crossing, a pedestrian must

• Cross railway lines at marked crossings only, and always stay on the path.
• Look and listen in both directions for approaching trains. If the train is coming, always wait for it to pass then stop to look and listen before continuing to cross.
• Not cross when red lights are flashing. Wait until the flashing stops then cross the railway track.
• Not jump the fence, gate or barrier when the swing gate is closed. It is extremely likely that the approaching train or tram is very close to the crossing.
• Listen carefully without wearing earphones or using a phone. Sounds can be very deceptive, especially at night. The train or tram might be closer than you think.
• Always obey all the rules and warning signs.

• A train can come from either the left or the right, or both, at any time.
• A train cannot change direction to avoid you.
• A train takes a long time to stop – a train travelling at 90 kilometres per hour takes over 400 metres to stop.

Rail Education Unit

The Rail Education Unit is a joint initiative between TransAdelaide and the South Australian Police dedicated to promoting safe and appropriate behaviour on trains and near railway lines. Now in its ninth year, the Unit is available to schools and other community groups.

Safe Track Program
Knowing how to act safely and appropriately on board trains and around the rail system is important… and that’s why Trans Adelaide and the South Australian Police have an educational program especially for Primary School children (years 4 to 7).

Learning Made Easy
The rail Education unit has developed a teacher resource and student activity package making it easy – and fun! – to incorporate rail safety lessons into the school curriculum.

The ‘SafeTrack’ program consists of a Teachers Resource Manual containing 30 lesson planning ideas and practical classroom activities for each of the eight Key Learning Areas, developed with assistance from the Department for Education, Training and Employment.

School visits and activities.
During visits, which are pre-arranged with schools, students have the opportunity top chat with a Police Officer and a TransAdealide employee and have their questions answered. Special activities can include an excursion to the Adelaide Railway Station to give students first-hand experience of the rail system.

Community Involvement
The Rail Education unit is actively involved in the community and is available to speak to community groups about the unit’s role in the community and about rail safety.

Don’t Play with Trains
To coincide with National Rail Safety Week the Department for Transport, Energy and Infrastructure (DTEI) reminded all South Australians – don’t play with trains.

The successful level crossing safety campaign featuring television and radio commercials was again on metropolitan and regional stations. The deliberately graphic and thought provoking campaign first aired in June 2005 with its effectiveness promoting interest from transport jurisdictions both interstate and overseas.

Since first issuing Don’t Play with Trains warning in June 2005 significant improvements have been made to rail safety via initiatives like the $2.7 million Level Crossing Safety Program. But Minister for Transport, Patrick Conlon, says now is not the time for complacency.

“We have made progress with this campaign and so we want to reiterate to the public the importance of safety on and around trains,” Minister Conlon said. “Since the tragic incident at Park Terrace, Salisbury in October 2002, DTEI is continually reviewing safety at level crossings and undertaking improvement works across the network.” “Our focus is on continuing to improve rail crossing infrastructure and education to ensure that people understand these are inherently dangerous places and require diligence and responsibility.”

The material informs road users that their behaviour is the major reason for crashes at level crossings. Queuing at level crossings, not expecting or looking for a second train, inattention, running warning lights and evading boom gates are the most common causes. Pedestrians are reminded to use designated pedestrian crossing points and observe warning bells and signage. Motorists and cyclists are urged to observe on road signage, boom gates, warning bells and take responsibility for their actions wherever the road meets a rail line.

Information is also available by visiting: www.mac.sa.gov.au

Need More Information?
Phone: (08) 8218 2688
Fax: (08) 8303 0515