REGIONAL LEVEL CROSSINGS

Mrs VLAHOS (Taylor) (14:31): My question is to the Minister for Road Safety. Can the Minister for Road Safety provide details on the plans to upgrade level crossings in regional South Australia?

The Hon. J.M. RANKINE (Wright—Minister for Police, Minister for Correctional Services, Minister for Emergency Services, Minister for Road Safety, Minister for Multicultural Affairs) (14:32): I thank the member for Taylor for her question and commend her ongoing advocacy in this important matter. I am pleased to advise the house that $2.3 million is being spent this financial year to improve safety levels at six railway crossings in regional South Australia. This takes expenditure on level-crossing improvements to over $11 million in the last four years, with 23 crossings in total upgraded.

Stop signs will be replaced with flashing lights, bells and boom gates at four crossings at Coonamia, Huddleston, Tailem Bend and Bordertown. Road shoulders have been widened at two crossings along the Two Wells to Mallala road, at intersections with Simpkin Road and Pratt Road. Subject to good weather, the level-crossing works will be finished by the middle of this year.

Investigations by the Australian Transport Safety Bureau have found that in almost every level-crossing crash there is very little the train driver could have done to prevent the accident. The government is continually highlighting the need to take care at rail crossings and is serious about improved rail safety. We are also committed to making sure people do the right thing and obey laws put in place to help protect them.

Last week, it became law to prosecute motorists for committing multiple road traffic crimes at level crossings. Previously, if a motorist was speeding and jumping a red light through a level crossing, it would only be possible to charge them for one offence. As of last week, motorists committing multiple road traffic offences at level crossings will be penalised for both offences.

I want to thank the house for allowing these legislative changes to pass into law and pay tribute particularly to the former shadow road safety minister, the member for Kavel, who played a significant role in ensuring the changes received bipartisan support. Any type of risk-taking at level crossings, whether you are a motorist, cyclist or a pedestrian, is hazardous and it goes without saying that there is absolutely no reason to play with fate by running warning lights and evading boom gates, as we know this can result in serious injury or death.

Only last week, while waiting at the rail crossing on Torrens Road, when the gates were down, the red lights were flashing, the bells were ringing, and amber lights were flashing warning pedestrians that more than one train was expected, I saw four people walk across the tracks. One was a mother with a baby in a pusher. She crossed one set of tracks where a passenger train had passed, nearly walking into a freight train. As she crossed that track, another passenger train passed behind her. Four trains passed that crossing within minutes; five people could have been killed.

The government has made a clear commitment to doing what it can to increase safety at rail crossings, and we are continually running rail safety promotion campaigns. However, no amount of lights, bells or boom gates can replace common sense and people taking individual responsibility for their safety and the safety of those they love.