Rail Safety: Have Your Say
The Ministry of Transport has taken the first steps to develop new safety targets for the national rail network. The Ministry wants to achieve either a 25 percent reduction by 2015 (the same as for roads), or a 15 percent reduction (which it describes as more "a more achievable target"). In the last seven years there have been an annual average of 22 fatalities on the rail network.
A discussion paper released this week proposes two major changes. Firstly, a switch in focus from an overall target for rail safety and a target for level crossing accidents to three separate targets:
- level crossing injury accidents;
- trespass/vandalism injury accidents; and
- rail operations injury accidents (that is, all other injury accidents).
Second, the paper argues that reducing the rail accident rate is not a matter only for the rail operators but is a communal responsibility. Among those responsible are land Transport NZ (LTNZ) itself (it is responsible for the licensing of rail operators, approving and auditing railway operations, and approving operational changes); the road-controlling authorities (local government and Transit NZ); the owners of private roads; and the general public (LTNZ notes that suicide and alcohol appear to be two of the biggest contributing factors to trespass accidents).
Submissions close on 3 March. Please make your submission online at www.transport.govt.nz/rail/; alternatively, send your submission to Safety and Security Group, Ministry of Transport, PO Box 3175, Wellington. For inquiries please contact info@transport.govt.nz, or telephone (04) 4721253 |
Contact for Enquiries
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