National Rail Safety Week starts today, Monday 8 August, and South Australians are being urged to ‘Stand back. Look up and Stay Rail Safe.’ when around trains, trams and rail lines - it only takes one moment of distraction, or unsafe action, to change a person’s life forever.

The most at-risk age groups around rail include school aged children and seniors.

On average, six collisions and 110 near misses involving either a person or a vehicle are reported by rail operators in South Australia each year.

A near-miss is classified as an event in which the driver takes some form of action, such as emergency braking, so the number of reported incidents reflects those considered of high concern.

There are approximately 480 pedestrian crossings and 557 public level crossings on South Australian railway lines, demonstrating the everyday risk of people interacting with rail corridors and the importance of exercising caution at all times.

The trauma when a train hits a person or a vehicle is enormous and far reaching – not only for those injured or killed and their families, but also the train driver, other rail staff, emergency service workers and the local community.

Even minor incidents regularly cause extended service disruptions, motorist delays and property damage.

Near misses can also cause severe and lasting trauma, particularly for train drivers, staff and passengers on board.

Rail safety is everyone’s responsibility. We need to look out for each other and pay attention to our surroundings.

Trains travel at speeds of up to 110km/h and cannot stop quickly.

A typical passenger train weighs around 140 tonnes and can take up to 470 metres to stop, while freight trains need well over 1km to stop safely.

Pedestrians, cyclists and motorists should keep these simple points in mind when nearby railway tracks:

• Always stay behind the white line when waiting for a train or tram or to cross at a level crossing.
• Be sensible, pay attention and be alert around trains and on platforms, checking for oncoming trains in both directions (not just the one nearest you).
• Stay alert and look both ways, ensuring you only cross rail tracks at dedicated pedestrian and vehicle crossings.
• Remember to put your mobile phone away, dismount from your bike and always remove headphones when you are near train tracks.
• Take extra care around crossings with multiple tracks, high train frequency, or where there are no gates or signals.
• It is illegal to enter a level crossing while the lights are flashing or when warning bells sound.
• Always ensure there is enough space for your vehicle on the other side of a level crossing before making the decision to cross.
• Wait for the lights and bells to stop and the boom gates to go up before crossing the tracks at a level crossing.

South Australians are encouraged to test their rail safety knowledge and take the quiz at www.mylicence.sa.gov.au/road-rules/rail-safety-quiz.