Hair-raising clips of near misses on Sydney trams revealed in video as authorities urge people to pay attention
NSW authorities have revealed chilling clips of near-misses on Sydney’s tram network in a bid to ensure motorists and pedestrians remain vigilant and take safety precautions.
Clips show 4WDs, sedans, people walking and cyclists delivering food coming within centimeters of violent collisions as tram drivers slam on the brakes.
“It’s difficult to watch these moments when the difference between a brief accident and something much worse can be measured in centimeters and milliseconds,” said NSW Transport Minister John Graham.
“Light rail vehicles weigh the equivalent of 60 vehicles, they cannot leave the road and it takes time to stop.
“Each of these close calls is avoidable and we urge people to follow the rules of the road, remain vigilant and not be distracted by their phones.”
There were eight crashes and 127 near misses on four light rail lines in Sydney and Parramatta from January to the end of April, state government figures show.
Two pedestrians have died in incidents on Sydney’s light rail network in the last three years. In both cases, the person attempted to drive over the link that holds the two tram cars together.
At least one of the clips released Sunday shows a person absent-mindedly walking along tram tracks while looking at his phone. Other clips show vehicles running over moving trams, and other footage shows people on bicycles barely missing impact.
Another clip shows a man running to pass a tram, cutting it off and continuing to run away.
“This image should be a real wake-up call for people,” said NSW Transport General Co-ordinator Howard Collins.
“We want everyone to understand that safe behavior on light rail is not optional. Taking an extra minute to look, listen and obey signals can prevent injuries,” he said.
