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Melbourne, Victoria: In-vehicle warning technology to be developed

Tim Pallas, Victoria’s Minister for Transport has launched a research project to develop in-vehicle systems to warn of level crossings. The research project is being led by La Trobe University with support from both road and rail sector organisations.

“Using mobile-phone-style wireless networks, integrated with GPS, the new technology will have cars and trains talking to each other and able to warn of approaching danger from up to one kilometre away” said Mr Pallas. He added “By supporting this AU$4 million project, the Brumby Labor Government is recognising the huge improvements this could deliver for road and community safety.

Mr Pallas went on to say “Nowhere else in the world is the trial of this particular technology being proposed to the extent that we are doing in Victoria and focusing on its level crossing safety applications.” He further added “This technology has the potential to significantly reduce and help to eliminate collisions, injuries and fatalities at level crossings”.

Perhaps optimistically Mr Pallas said the research team at La Trobe University Centre for Technology Infusion estimated the technology could save around 37 lives at Australian level crossings every year, as well as about AU$100m by eliminating level crossing collisions.

“The research team hopes to have such technology available in three years and we expect this technology to have benefits particularly in rural and regional Victoria,” said Mr Pallas, adding “our Government has invested AU$0.5m in this project because we believe this research will bring about change and take a leading role in the development of intelligent transport systems and the smart cars of the future.”
La Trobe University logo

More generally Mr Pallas said that through the Victorian Transport Plan the Government had allocated AU$100m for level crossing upgrades and AU$4.0m for a grade separation programme
Mr Pallas said “We have already fixed the busy Springvale Road level crossing in Nunawading, separating trains from cars and we’re also continuing the on-going Level Crossing Upgrade Program that aims to improve safety at level crossings across Victoria”.

Member of Parliament for Bundoora, Colin Brooks, said 43 level crossing control upgrades were completed in the last financial year and there were also a further 28 active advance warning sign upgrades during the year. “As we continue to develop safety measures to reduce risk, we also ask the public to do their bit by driving safely and always obeying the warning signs,” Mr Brooks said. He concluded “This new technology will make a huge difference to road safety, and will assist Government in achieving its ‘Towards Zero’ aim to reduce the number of deaths and injuries at level crossings”.

(July 26th, 2010)

Washington, DC: FHWA launches intersection resource website

The U.S. Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) has launched a website that provides access to a broad cross section of publications, educational materials, and other media that addresses traditional intersections, with or without signals, roundabouts, level crossings and alternative intersection designs such as single-point intersections. Information on the site can be found by keyword search or browsed by title, author, or topic.

The resource is available at: http://safety.fhwa.dot.gov/intersection/resources/fhwasa09027/

(July 20th, 2010)

 

U.S. Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) logo

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