If you have a collision with a train, you are 20 times more likely to die than if you collide with a car.
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That’s the message from Northern Region Highway Patrol Chief Inspector Bruce McGregor during Rail Safety Week.
The week, which runs from August 14 to 20, aims to encourage pedestrians and drivers to engage in safe rail practices.
Inspector McGregor said highway patrol police were patrolling around rail crossings during the week targeting speeding, mobile phone use and other dangerous behaviour.
He said police were urging drivers to pay attention and not take risks. It comes after a man had a lucky escape after his car collided with a train in Kurri Kurri.
“He walked away from it, he was very fortunate,” Inspector McGregor said.
“There is a danger if you don’t obey instructions.”
Inspector McGregor said drivers should take extra caution around crossings with no boom gates. However he also urged motorists not to race boom gates and pay attention to the signals.