A new national advertising campaign is encouraging drivers and pedestrians to take their time when around railway crossings. There are more than 23,000 regional railway crossings. Many of these crossings involve interactions between rail operations, road traffic, cyclists, and pedestrians every minute of every day.

According to a report by TrackSAFE Foundation, aside from trespass and suicide, the largest number of accidents at level crossings involves members of the public. Between 2001-2022, there were 2,250 fatalities, representing an average of 102 each year or almost two each week. Victoria (43%) followed by NSW (31%) recorded the highest number of deaths. This new campaign reminds drivers of the risks around regional railway crossings and raises awareness of the importance of being cautious, emphasizing the message to ‘Slow down. Look. Listen for trains.’

The campaign forms part of the Australian Government’s $180.1 million Regional Australia Level Crossing Safety Program, to improve safety around railway crossings in regional areas, which includes $160 million to support lower-cost, high-priority railway crossing upgrades, and $4.7 million for two grants rounds to support research and trials of low-cost, innovative level crossing safety technology and improvements.

The campaign also aligns with the objectives of the National Level Crossing Safety Strategy 2023–32, a collaborative initiative of the Australian, state, and territory governments.