安全有待加强，平交道口如虎口

维州自由党和国家党的议员们齐声呼吁，改善维州郊区的平交道安全问题刻不容缓。

郊区平交道和墨尔本近郊最大的不同是，它没有我们所认知的警示信号灯，也没有安全闸等设备来提醒郊区的车辆驾驶，因此驾驶们只能自行注意是否有火车靠近。

这也形成无形中安全的死角，对于不熟悉当地环境的游客而言更是有着难以形容的潜在危险。

基于郊区平交道口的安全死角问题，在过去已发生过太多起严重事故，也太多无辜的人因此而丧失性命。 而在政府拖延改善郊区安全设备之时，近期又发生一起严重的意外事故。

每一个生命都同等的珍贵，保护人民安全更是政府首要之务，因此维州自由党联盟在此承诺，如果能在下届选举顺利执政，将拨款 2000 万澳币改善郊区的平交道安全设施，让警示信号灯、安全闸等设施也可出现在郊区。

此举不但可给郊区居民多一层安全保障，更可对不熟悉当地环境的游客提供更安全的服务。

 

 English version/ 英文版

More protections needed for country level crossings

 

Victorian Liberal and Nationals MPs have called for more action to continue to improve safety at level crossing in country Victoria.

 

Unlike crossing in Melbourne, many country level crossings don’t have flashing lights or boom gates to warn motorists or stop vehicles crossing.

 

Instead, motorists need to look out for themselves to see if a train is approaching. This can often be difficult, particularly for visitors or others not familiar with the area.

 

There have been many serious accidents at country level crossings, and many people have been killed. Recently, there was a serious accident at a crossing where the government had delayed doing safety improvements.

 

The Victorian Liberal-Nationals Coalition has committed that if re-elected it will spend $20 million to upgrade more country level crossings with flashing lights and/or boom gates.