GrodsCorp

How much is a life worth?

Monday 14 April 2008, 3:31 pm

The Editor

Categories: Politics, Public transport

Tags: JohnBrumby, LevelCrossings, LynneKosky, rail, SpeedLimits

The Victorian government has a problem. 18 people have died in non-boom gated level crossing accidents across the state in the last ten months — with 25 deaths in the past four years — and the recent introduction of rumble strips, driver education campaigns, and other non-boom gate measures have done nothing to stop the carnage. It’s looking more and more likely as time goes on that Premier John Brumby and transport minister Lynne Kosky are going to have to bite the bullet and — gasp! — spend some serious money on boom gates to save some lives.

But that’s not how Brumby and Kosky roll.

The Victorian Government will slash speed limits at more than 70 level crossings across the state after a spate of fatal smashes.

Speed limits will be cut from 100km/h to 80km/h at 72 level crossings across Victoria by the end of the year, Public Transport Minister Lynne Kosky said today.

I’m tellin’ ya, this government brings new meaning to the phrase “tinkering around the edges”. Firstly, cutting speeds by 20kph around rural level crossings is going to do nothing to stop drivers taking the risks that often contribute to these accidents. Secondly, cutting speeds by 20kph around rural level crossings is going to do nothing to stop drivers’ concentration lapsing as it often has in these accidents. Thirdly, how is the government planning to enforce these speed limits at 72 remote sites across the state?

As much as I hate to say it, it seems that the Victorian Labor Party has put a price on human life and they’re not prepared to pay it.

15 Comments

Tom (Monday 14 April 2008, 4:30 pm) #

“Firstly, cutting speeds by 20kph around rural level crossings is going to do nothing to stop drivers taking the risks that often contribute to these accidents.” Editor, if someone is so idiotic that they will risk getting killed (and causing inconvenience to the passengers) in order to get to their destination a few minutes earlier, then that’s their problem. People need to start taking responsibility for doing such stupid things, and stop relying on the government to prevent them from doing so.
Terry Wright (Monday 14 April 2008, 4:32 pm) #

Where (if) I grew up, a train came through twice a day - one way to it’s destination at 8.15am and back again at 9.20pm. You could set your watch by it.

The local milkman one day went through a local crossing without signals and was killed by the morning train at 8.14am. He had been driving the same route for 20 odd years.
The Editor (Monday 14 April 2008, 4:34 pm) #

So, Tom, stupidity is a good enough excuse to let people kill themselves, yeah?

(Oh, and the people on the train they hit too.)
Chade (Monday 14 April 2008, 4:50 pm) #

Of course, the slower you’re travelling, the more time you actually spend on the crossing!
Tom (Monday 14 April 2008, 4:52 pm) #

Ed-yes. If someone’s going to try and play games with a 100+ ton mountain of metal, then that’s their responsibility.

“Oh, and the people on the train they hit too” I may be mistaken, but I’m pretty sure that the train would total the car and keep on moving like nothing happened.

This also highlights why we have boom gates in urban areas: a) because too many cars would be crossing to allow for effective public transport, and b) if a car is smashed, then parts could easily hit a pedestrian. Such problems don’t exist in rural areas (although any similar cases in the country deserve crossings as well).
The Editor (Monday 14 April 2008, 4:54 pm) #

Bit of homework reading, Tom.
Chuck A. Spear (Monday 14 April 2008, 4:57 pm) #

Is that you Andy/Tom? It sounds like you.
Tom (Monday 14 April 2008, 4:58 pm) #

Thanks for that, Ed. I may have to start thinking in a little less black-and-white thought on the issue from now on.
Terry Wright (Monday 14 April 2008, 5:02 pm) #

Tom, you don’t leave room for mistakes or accidents. Also some crossings in the country have trees and bushes obscuring the view.
The other point is like what my last comment said. Is it is just human nature to get used to a pattern of regular trains after 20 years and if you slip up once … splooof.
Bridgit Gread (Monday 14 April 2008, 5:03 pm) #

There are almost no level crossings in England; there people just stop and wait. I fail to see why Australians can’t just stop and wait too.
The Editor (Monday 14 April 2008, 5:03 pm) #

Don’t worry, Tom. Black-and-white thinking is the foundation of the blogosphere.
The Editor (Monday 14 April 2008, 5:04 pm) #

“There are almost no level crossings in England; there people just stop and wait. I fail to see why Australians can’t just stop and wait too.”

I dare say it’s got something to do with the long, straight, boring stretches of road that Britain just doesn’t have outside the M1.
Chade (Monday 14 April 2008, 5:18 pm) #

Are there level crossings on major highways in Britain/England, too?
keri (Monday 14 April 2008, 5:32 pm) #

Chade, to be honest I don’t recall ever seeing a train cross a major highway in the UK. I just don’t remember seeing one, which might suggest there aren’t many. They tend to go underneath or run alongside.
Bridgit Gread (Monday 14 April 2008, 5:42 pm) #

It’s mostly bridges, underpasses and tunnels over there. The few places where you have to stop for trains, they have big boom-gatey things.