communications, and off-rail train detection, a new generation of low-cost level crossing warning devices (LCLCWDs) may provide a practical way to install barriers, particularly in remote areas, where it is currently not feasible. Whilst LCLCWDs may cost around only 10% of existing barrier installations, many of the systems available don’t provide the high (SIL 4) degree of protection against failure that exists in current systems. Work is underway to determine the complex legal and social issues that may arise from providing lower cost barriers if it also involves a possible increase in wrong-side equipment failure rates. Nevertheless, the new technologies look promising for rail safety and should continue to be thoroughly investigated. Finally, it may not be wise for Australia to establish a precedent whereby barriers are installed as a matter of course at all level crossings. By comparison, while traffic lights are very common at road junctions, there is no road intersection in Australia where barriers are used to provide a warning that road traffic is approaching on the
Table 1: Selected underlying cause of death for all Australians in 2009 (source ATSB) Cause of Death
Accidental poisoning by and exposure to noxious substances Breast cancer Thyroid disorder
Mental health disorder Parkinson’s disease
2799 135
6522 1194
Inhalation and ingestion of food causing obstruction of respiratory tract 56 Inhalation of gastric contents Fall on and from stairs and steps Fall involving bed
Fall on and from ladder Other fall on same level Fall involving other furniture
Drowning and submersion while in bath-tub Exposure to excessive natural cold
Other and unspecified firearm discharge, undetermined intent
other road. Arguably there are many more situations on Australia’s road network where barriers could provide a useful safety control than there are on the railway network. If barriers were installed unthinkingly at every level crossing, then logically barriers should also be used at road intersections, especially where traffic lights are currently installed. Following this line of reasoning, barriers should be installed at any intersection between
31 50 28 13 18 10 10 24 18
Total Total ÷ 7 799
114.1 399.9 19.3
931.7 170.6 8.0 4.4 7.1 4.0 1.9 2.6 1.4 1.6 3.4 2.6
road traffic and any other vehicle: such as pedestrian crossings, or even private drives. Such an absurd approach highlights the fact that whilst barriers canbe an effective control in some situations, it is clear that they should not be used in every situation where they couldbe used, indeed they should not even be used at every level crossing possible, but only where they can provide a meaningful improvement in safety. IRJ
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Sales@hollandco.com IRJ December 2012 39
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