Recent CCTV footage has revealed alarming near-misses involving cyclists, pedestrians, and mobility scooter users on light rail tracks across New South Wales, particularly in Sydney’s CBD, Eastern Suburbs, Parramatta, and Newcastle. The visuals depict a range of risky situations, such as a delivery rider gliding dangerously close to a moving light rail vehicle, seemingly unaware of the imminent danger.
Other clips capture cars and motorised scooters accelerating across the tracks nearly colliding with trams. In a particularly striking moment, a man inadvertently stepped into the path of a light rail vehicle but was saved from potential injury by another pedestrian who quickly pulled him back.
Transport authorities have identified that the Parramatta Light Rail system has experienced more near-mishaps in the past year compared to other routes. In light of this concerning trend, officials are urging the public to exercise caution and adhere to road safety regulations. Minister for Transport John Graham noted that some of the footage is “hard to watch,” highlighting that individuals in the videos were just “centimetres or milliseconds away from potentially disastrous outcomes.”
This incident comes during the 20th annual Rail Safety Week, underscoring the importance of promoting safety awareness among all users of the transport network. As the footage illustrates, increased vigilance and compliance with safety measures are essential to prevent accidents and ensure the safety of all road users.