06/21/10

Media Advisory - 21 June 2010

The first ever International Level Crossing Awareness Day (ILCAD) takes place tomorrow, 22 June 2010. New Zealand takes the lead in observing the day because of its time-zone advantage.

The aim of the world-wide campaign is to raise driver awareness of the need for care and attention at railway level crossings to reduce deaths and serious injuries.

The figures for collisions and near misses with vehicles at Level crossings in New Zealand is;

Year	Collision	Near collision
2000	42	8
2001	34	42
2002	37	9
2003	39	22
2004	42	18
2005	44	25
2006	26	28
2007	25	33
2008	24	43
2009	37	82
2010*	16	39

 

* - 2010 figures to June

 

Coordinated by the International Union of Railways in Paris, France, the first ever ILCAD follows on from the success of more regional events in the past. Activities are taking place in Australia, India, Africa, Europe, North and South America.

 

In New Zealand, the focus of the campaign on the day will be a high impact display at Wellington Railway Station, featuring the remains of a car used in a controlled collision with a train to illustrate the impact such an incident can have.

 

The display will be in place in the Booking Hall inside the station entrance from 7am on Tuesday 22 June, and removed the same evening.

 

KiwiRail has produced some new level crossing safety materials and is working with New Zealand Police, the Ministry of Transport, New Zealand Transport Agency, ARTA, Veolia, Greater Wellington Regional Council and the Chris Cairns Foundation on safety campaigns and activities.

 

ENDS
264 words

Contacts:
KiwiRail - Nigel Parry 0274 359 464
Chris Cairns Foundation - Megan Drayton 0274 727 002
ILCAD information can be found here;
www.ilcad.org

Category: KiwiRail Group

Posted by: Nigel Parry

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