Public transport users
The growing use of public transport will deliver road safety benefits. However, some significant safety risks from public transport use may increase as patronage increases, especially in relation to trams, which share the road with other road users.
The First Action Plan introduces new initiatives to address these risks, improve safe sharing of the road between motorists, trams and buses, and ensure that public transport users travel in safety.
| Area of action |
Actions |
| Public education |
- Continue to roll out the TravelSmart program in communities, universities, schools and workplaces to encourage greater use of public transport.
- Undertake public awareness campaigns to:
- reduce the number of incidents involving cars passing stationary trams
- ensure that motorists observe tram lanes, clearways and turn bans around buses and trams.
- Undertake public education campaigns to improve public awareness of level crossing safety incorporating new laws and penalties.
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| Enforcement |
- Increase enforcement, including the use of tram-mounted cameras to record offences, particularly where the safety of tram passengers is jeopardised.
- Improve targeted enforcement of the road rules regarding passing stationary trams.
- installation of rumble strips to physically alert motorists that they are approaching rail level crossings.
|
| Infrastructure |
- Deliver the Meeting Our Transport Challenges infrastructure program to progressively upgrade safety at level crossings in Melbourne and provincial Victoria. Measures to improve rail level crossing safety will include:
- installation of automated advance warning signs at highway and high volume sites
- installation of rumble strips to alert motorists that they are approaching rail level crossings
- reduction of speed limits at high risk, high road speed rural rail level crossings
- improving line of sight at level crossings including vegetation removal.
- Increase segregation between trams and buses and other road users, and provide safe access to services for users, as part of the expanded ThinkTram and bus priority programs under Meeting Our Transport Challenges.
- Carry out road improvements to increase the safety of people at and around tram and bus stops.
- Improve public transport accessibility for people with disabilities, older people and families with prams.
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| Legislation |
- Review road rules in relation to trams, buses and other road users to ensure measures are in place to protect public transport users at tram and bus stops, and to reduce the need for sudden braking by public transport vehicles.
- Review regulations and penalties relating to tram lanes, clearways and turn bans.
- Increase penalties for level crossing infringements and introduce new offences of speeding to cross ahead of trains when lights and bells are activated and manoeuvring around boom gates that are down.
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| Licensing |
- Enhance driver training and licensing procedures to improve driver skills regarding interaction with public transport vehicles.
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