ACT Policing and CMET reminds Canberrans to be rail safe this March

ACT Policing officers will be paying attention to all forms of commuter behaviour, including pedestrians and cyclists who are crossing roads to use the light rail, or to cross the tracks.

Drivers are also reminded to obey traffic light signals connected to the light rail network, and to remember light rail vehicles get priority at intersections, which means traffic light sequences can vary.  

Office-in-Charge, ACT Road Policing, Detective Inspector Paul Hutcheson said the message this month is all about vulnerable road users' safety.   

“Our roads in Canberra are diversifying and we need to be more aware of everyone using our road and light rail network,” said Detective Inspector Paul Hutcheson.    

“Drivers have a responsibility to keep a look out for light rail vehicles and people in high pedestrian areas. Pedestrians using light rail have a responsibility to use marked crossings and to always look both ways when crossing any road.”    

General Manager of Canberra Metro Operations, Bruno Lancelot, said that it’s important that motorists, pedestrians and cyclists are rail safe when travelling around the light rail. 

“Since January 2023, our light rail drivers have needed to apply the emergency brake 21 times to avoid a collision,” Mr Lancelot said.  

The March 2023 Road Traffic focus shines a light on a different group of commuters each week including pedestrians, buses, light rail, bikes and e-scooters.

Media enquiries 

Police Media — (02) 5126 9070, act-police-media@afp.gov.au