Make Our Trams Safer

The issue of safely sharing Melbourne roads with trams has been in the media lately. In late 2007 a 16 year old youth was seriously injured while alighting from a stationary tram that had made a routine stop. It was a miracle he was not killed. The driver who hit the youth claimed that they did not know that the tram was stopping or had stopped.

The issue of trams not clearly indicating their intention to stop has created an ambiguous situation for drivers who are in the vicinity of the tram. Trams are not required to put any signals on when they are approaching a stop. Passing drivers then take liberties of overtaking the tram that put alighting tram passengers at mortal risk. Every day there are near misses due to this ambiguity. Can YOU tell with certainty when a tram is about to stop?

This ambiguity only exists with trams. Everywhere else there are rules e.g. rules for signalling while changing lanes, brake lights that light up when stopping or slowing down, green-amber-red signal transition, stop signs etc.

If it was made compulsory for tram drivers to start flashing the tram signal lights well in advance of the tram stop, it would clearly give the car drivers ample warning of the tram drivers intention to stop.

To avoid situations where interstate or overseas drivers are not familiar with Victorian road rules and may not understand the flashing lights, it would help if trams show signs such as “Tram Stopping, Do Not Pass”. This would make it very clear for any one following the tram that the tram is about to stop and should not be overtaken.

If it was further legislated that once a tram has started flashing its lights, then drivers following the tram should not pass the tram, and if they do they can be issued a fine. This will ensure that passengers have a safety buffer as they alight from the tram.

Thank you for your support to make our roads safer.