A large multisport kicks off KiwiRail after the last collision at the junction

Steve Gurney, a brilliant and motivational multisport speaker, is furious with authorities after learning of the latest railroad crossing accident in North Canterbury.

In 2011, Gurney left with minor injuries after his SUV collided with the Coastal Pacific train, at the same intersection on Marsh Rd in Rangiora.

Gurney admitted to a charge of careless use of a motor vehicle and admitted that he had made a mistake.

But he was not alone: ​​13 other drivers at New Zealand rail crossings also mistakenly collided with trains that same year.

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The latest hit at the Marsh Rd junction on Wednesday left concrete and asphalt specialist Sam Twose shaking but unharmed.

The Ute he was driving suffered the brunt of the damage, crashing into a nearby fence after colliding with the Coastal Pacific passenger train just before 7:30 a.m.

It was the third collision between a train and a vehicle at the crossing in 10 years, but three near-misses have also been reported in that time.

In 2016, an accident involving a southbound TranzRail freight train and a pickup truck left a person seriously injured after being thrown from the car.

Two other occupants were “walking wounded.”

But despite the incidents, there are no plans to update it.

Gurney, a multiple Coast to Coast winner, said that after his accident he tried to offer suggestions and help to KiwiRail, and was furious that he had fallen on deaf ears.

New Zealand has four different variations of crosses, but the research was clear, they should all be consistent, he said.

When North Canterbury’s father, Adam Bisseker, died at a similar junction in Rangiora earlier this year, Gurney said he got angry and blamed bad design as a factor.

“It’s like KiwiRail is stuck in the age of steam engines,” he said.

“We all make mistakes, but we can learn from them … their lack of response should hold them accountable.”

Gurney said that “ inattention blindness, ” a phenomenon that can cause people to miss things in front of their eyes, was common when driving, and most people on New Zealand roads did not. they were used to looking for trains, which were becoming even less frequent.

“There are so many things on our minds when we drive that our minds are cut off: we look for cars and bikes, but we don’t wait for trains.”

Gurney was scheduled on social media after his accident, with people pointing out the obvious of not noticing a train, however, he maintained that he hadn’t seen it until he heard the honking of the horn.

Very few people intentionally cross the path of an oncoming train, he said.

Drivers’ brains also expect to see a barrier, so all junctions must have a consistent design, he said.

Authorities should also consider the increased use of the Marsh Rd crossing, with the arrival of Pak ‘n Save in 2015 having a significant impact on traffic volumes.

Gurney estimated that about half of the drivers did not stop at that intersection.

“I am upset with the authorities because it is so simple. Yes, it is expensive, but this is how we save lives. ”

A KiwiRail spokeswoman said that while there were no immediate plans to improve the Marsh Rd crossing, it would be discussed early next year.

There are around 1,400 public road level crossings in New Zealand, of which around 20% have boom barriers and 35% flashing lights and bells.

That leaves about 700 crossings protected by yielding or, like Marsh Rd, stop signs.

“All of our crosses are evaluated for risk using internationally endorsed criteria,” KiwiRail said.