Level Crossing Safety Technology Trial

Introduction

The Level Crossing Safety Technology Trial of innovative lighting infrastructure is designed to increase driver awareness and reduce the associated risks for motorists and trains at railway level crossings. 

The trial is being delivered in Narromine and Bribbaree.

This project received the 2024 IoT Award in Safety and Wellbeing.

Challenge

There are more than 2,700 level crossings in NSW, including 1,307 on public roads, of these 858 are passively controlled by static stop or give way signage.

From 2001 to 2021 there were 164 crashes at level crossings between trains and vehicles in NSW, resulting in 16 fatalities and 26 serious injuries.

During this period, the average frequency of collision at a level crossing in NSW was just over eight crashes per year, or one crash every six weeks. 

Solution

We are trialling new technologies to improve level crossing safety in NSW at three trial sites in regional NSW:

• Mary Gilmore Way, Bribbaree. Augmented Stop Signs and Advance Warning Signs, both with LED lights
• Dandaloo Road, Narromine. Augmented Stop Signs with LED lights
• Old Backwater Road, Narromine. Advance Warning Signs with LED lights.
   

Expected outcomes

Smart Places outcome area:

• safety and security.

If the level crossing technology trial is successful, this solution could be installed in additional level crossings in NSW. 

Resources

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