The signal engineer's perception

The responsibility and total accountability for the design, installation and maintenance of active level crossing protection devices has always been and still does rest with Rail Authorities. In all States there has been increasing awareness that the decision on which of the current accepted protection levels is most suitable at each location is best handled jointly by Rail and Road Authorities in accordance with some form of defendable warrant. The area of funding responsibility has been the subject of ongoing debate and, although it obviously needs to be resolved, it is not the most critical issue at hand. The areas that are fundamental to progress beyond the current situation in relation to level crossing protection are accountability and liability. Until these issues are addressed it is unlikely that any significant change will be possible.