Upgrade Twigg Road level crossing and other rural crossings across NSW to prevent further avoidable deaths
Petitioner:
Mrs Diane Griffiths
| Member:
Watson, Anna
| No. of Signatories:
149
| Date closed:
01/05/2025
To the Speaker and Members of the Legislative Assembly,
This petition addresses critical safety concerns at passive level crossings in New South Wales, highlighted by a recent tragic and preventable loss.
On 2 September 2024, Ethan Griffiths was killed at the Twigg Road passive level crossing in Yenda, near Griffith, when his bike collided with an oncoming train. He was 21 years old.
The accident was investigated by police and the Coroner, with eye-witnesses confirming Ethan obeyed the stop sign and looked both ways. However, tragically, the setting sun blocked all vision of the oncoming train.
Had boom gates or warning signals been present, Ethan would still be alive today.
It is too late for Ethan, but it is not too late to make rural infrastructure safer for local families and regional communities state-wide.
This crossing is one of 860 passive level crossings across NSW that rely solely on static warning signs. These basic crossings pose significant risks to rural communities, particularly during challenging visibility conditions. Currently available solar technology may present a viable solution for powering warning systems at these locations.
The undersigned petitioners therefore ask the Legislative Assembly to call on the Government to:
1. Prioritise the immediate upgrade of the Twigg Road crossing in Yenda with boom gates, flashing lights and warning bells to protect the local community.
2. Implement a program to progressively upgrade the remaining 859 passive level crossings across rural NSW with appropriate warning systems to ensure the safety of all residents.
