level crossing prang in Queensland

[aussiesteve]

G'day,
The ATSB preliminary report into a fatal level crossing incident in suburban Brisbane has been published.
The particular level crossing is slewed and confused by merging roads parallel to the railway.
Motorist confusion being a factor in this prang.
And, I am guessing, a example of the need for multiple boom barrier gates.
This incident reminds me of a fatal level crossing incident in Japan.
Where a truck driver got lost while attempting to navigate a confusing series of intersections.
One must ask, can you design systems of total protection ?
Or, are there going to be situations that fall between the cracks.
https://www.atsb.gov.au/media/578005...005-prelim.pdf
Steve.

[Beeyar Wunby]

Yo Steve

Originally Posted by aussiesteve

One must ask, can you design systems of total protection ?
Or, are there going to be situations that fall between the cracks.
Steve.

That's a rhetorical question, right? Because you know that human beings will always find a way to mess thihgs up.

But that is a seriously horrid crossing. The overhead photos in the preliminary report don't show the barriers clearly. Was it half barriers or full width, do you know ?

Cheers, John

[aussiesteve]

G'day BW,
From my perusal of the report, I gather that the booms ONLY face straight through traffic proceeding along North Road.
I noticed the mention of a stop sign and the solid white line which infers STOP.
I thusly presume that for traffic turning into North Road to thence proceed through the level crossing there is NO traffic light indication.
I will need to peruse the report again to confirm this.
I woulda thought that at least a traffic light with green and red arrow woulda been provided for such turning traffic.
I have not been to that location of Bananaland since I was a nipper.
So, have no local knowledge.
There are two level crossings that I know of on the Blue Mountains where veering traffic is faced with green and red arrows.
When ever the level crossing protection is activated by a train, parallel highway traffic is halted.
That to permit any traffic waiting to proceed through the level crossing can ESCAPE before the booms drop.
A frustration for highway traffic which gets halted for a period, even if NIL traffic is queued to cross the level crossing.
Zoom away and up the big hill on the highway only to get snagged at the next such intersection for a side road crossing the railway.
However, I do know how easily motorists can get snagged at level crossings.
My smog hollow amigo driving up the rise and onto the levelcrossing at Fairfield.
Traffic being queued waiting to enter the parallel main road not being easily squizzed prior to driving up the rise.
While sat over the tracks, a headlight appeared up the track and the booms began to drop.
No chance of propelling back as another motorist was right behind us in the long queue.
THERE IS A TRAIN COMING, I did stress to me amigo.
Finally to escape we had to zoom out onto the opposing traffic lane.
Fortunately all opposing traffic had been halted by the red arrow at the intersection on the main road.
And, he a retired TRAIN DRIVER got caught.
So many motorists have been snotted on the level crossing that a 40 TSR has been imposed on the track since Adam was a boy.
Steve.