FAQ

What is NRSW?

Established in 2006, the annual event is an Australasian Railway Association (ARA) initiative aimed at increasing community awareness about rail safety and improving behaviour at and around railways. The goal is to draw attention to rail safety issues and inform and educate Australian and New Zealand communities to improve behaviour at and around railways. 

When is NRSW?

The dates for NRSW 2009 are: 24 July – 31 July 2009.

Who participates in NRSW?

Rail Operators and Government Agencies from New Zealand and each Australian State and Territory take part in NRSW each year. This year, 15 organisations are involved to spread the rail safety messages to Australian and New Zealand communities. 

What happens during NRSW?

Each Rail Operator and Government Agency participating in NRSW organises safety activities throughout the week. These events are designed to educate the general public, school children and rural, regional and metro communities throughout the week. 

What types of activities are conducted?

NRSW activities conducted to spread rail safety messages include media campaigns such as the ‘Life Before Your Eyes’ advertisements running in Queensland, South Australia, Victoria and New Zealand; school visits such as the Connex Tigers in Victoria, xx in Western Australia and xx in New Zealand; Parliamentary launches and the distributions of educational resources to schools such as ‘Safetrack’ to all primary schools in South Australia.

What is the focus of NRSW?

Each year, NRSW participants select a theme for the week according to the most prominent rail safety issue. The rail industry strongly believes the potentially catastrophic level crossing accidents can be avoided if road users obey the road rules. For 2009, the NRSW theme is ‘all level crossing collisions are avoidable’. 

 Why is NRSW important?

NRSW provides an opportunity for the Australian and New Zealand rail industries to demonstrate their ongoing commitment to rail safety. The heightened focus on rail safety helps generate awareness and understanding of the risks around railways. By highlighting the risks, the rail industry is able to educate Australians and New Zealanders on the correct behaviour required at and around railways.  

Why level crossings?

Level crossing safety is the rail industry’s highest safety priority. On average, 37 Australian road users and five New Zealand road users die each year as a result of level crossing collisions. Whilst this may appear minor when compared to the road tolls, these fatalities account for more than 95 percent of rail related deaths.

Level crossing accidents have the potential to be catastrophic. They can result in multiple fatalities, wide-reaching trauma and extensive financial and political costs for those directly and indirectly involved. The rail industry believes every single level crossing collision is avoidable and it continues to work towards its goal of zero deaths at level crossings.

What is the answer to level crossing safety?

Whilst the rail industry believes zero deaths at level crossings is an achievable goal, there is no single answer for improved level crossing safety. Level crossing safety is multi-faceted. Consequently, the rail industry believes the 4E’s are key to improving level crossing safety. A combination of education, engineering, enforcement initiatives and the stance ‘enough is enough’ (no new level crossings) are employed by the rail industry to boost level crossing safety throughout Australia and New Zealand.