Trams have had 51 near collisions in Canberra since the beginning of the year, Canberra Metro Operations general manager Bruno Lancelot says.
"Out of them 39, which is 80 per cent, ended with the driver using [the] emergency brake," Mr Lancelot said.
"It's one every three to four days, and it's one every three or four days where we put the driver at risk, the passengers - potentially 200 people with the risk of falling."
Mr Lancelot said those who did venture in front of rail vehicles also put themselves at serious risk "because you don't win against the light rail unfortunately".
"If there's a collision you don't win," he said.
“It’s scary as hell”
— Transport Canberra (@Transport_CBR) August 8, 2021
Applying the emergency brake when driving a forty-something tonne vehicle regardless of the speed has a BIG and lasting impact.
This Rail Safety Week we ask you to pay attention and take responsibility!#Standbacklookup#Stayrailsafe#RSW21pic.twitter.com/kf4Q0uktRK
An annual effort to remind Canberrans of the severity of light rail collisions has kicked off with a frank message from a young artist.
"Don't rush or be crushed," is the message underpinning young artist Ada Miller's designs for Canberra Metro's rail safety campaign, which will appear on trams across the ACT.
The design, selected from pitches by Gungahlin College graphic design students, was modelled off footage from Canberra Metro Operations (CMET) of dangerous near-misses on the rail network.
"I just started watching the near misses video again and again, and I just tried to see what people were actually putting themselves in danger for," Ms Miller said.
"And it ended up being a lot of students who were just trying to get to school on time - well, students and workers.
"I decided that it might be important to target them specifically and try to get the message across that your safety is more important."
ACT Transport Minister Chris Steel said, "This is an opportunity to remind all Canberrans that safety around light rail is everyone's responsibility."
"It is important that we all take steps to be safe. A member of the public is killed or injured on the Australian rail network every 2.5 days."
