The
above is an animation that was created with
the data collected during the
Mallorytown investigation .
December 9th 2009 | Source: CNW
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The Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) calls for a
national standard to prevent collisions between trains and
vehicles at Canada's railway crossings.
This recommendation follows TSB's investigation of a collision
in 2008 between a passenger train and a lowboy tractor-trailer
stopped on a railway crossing in Mallorytown, Ontario. Five of
the 214 people aboard the train were injured on impact and the
tractor-trailer was destroyed. In its investigation, the TSB
found that no signs were installed at the crossing to warn the
truck driver that the slope of the road over the crossing was
too steep for his truck.
"In the last ten years, there have been four collisions between
trucks and trains on this busy railway corridor," said Tom
Griffith, Investigator in Charge. "It's time to put clear
warning signs where they're needed and take the guesswork out of
safety," he added.
Following a similar accident in 2002, Transport Canada worked
with road and railway authorities to develop low ground
clearance warning signage but a national standard has still not
been put in place. While there are low ground clearance signs at
some railway crossings, the Board says the design and placement
of the signs is inconsistent and, without a national standard,
numerous crossings in Canada remain at risk.
Adding to the risk, the Board determined that truck drivers do
not receive training about what to do when facing emergencies at
railway crossings. In Mallorytown, an emergency contact sign and
phone number was posted on a nearby signal box but was not
visible. As a result, the railway was not called and the
oncoming train was not alerted to stop in time. That's why the
TSB also wants driver training requirements strengthened to
include handling emergencies at railway crossings.
"The goal is to prevent vehicles from getting stuck at crossings
and to ensure drivers know what to do if it happens", said Tom
Griffith. "Transport Canada, the railways and the road
authorities must work together to identify high-risk crossings,
put warning signs where they're needed, and ensure drivers get
the information and training they need to avoid accidents", he
added.
The TSB is an independent agency that investigates marine,
pipeline, railway and aviation transportation occurrences. Its
sole aim is the advancement of transportation safety. It is not
the function of the Board to assign fault or determine civil or
criminal liability.
This news release, final report
R08T0158, and all relevant materials can be found on the TSB
website at www.bst-tsb.gc.ca.
