Sydney's light rail near-misses expose deadly risks of distraction

Alarming footage of near misses on Sydney’s light rail network has been released. It shows pedestrians and drivers coming dangerously close to being struck by the vehicles. Authorities warn that distraction, especially from mobile phones, is a major cause of accidents. In June 2022, a man died in Surry Hills after jumping between light rail carriages. A year later, in 2023, a 16-year-old girl was killed in Haymarket in a similar incident. These tragedies highlight the risks around the network.

In the first four months of 2023 alone, there were eight collisions and 127 near-misses. Light rail vehicles weigh the equivalent of 60 cars and cannot swerve to avoid pedestrians. Their size and limited manoeuvrability make them especially hazardous.

Transport minister John Graham has warned that a single moment of distraction could be fatal. The NSW state government now considers the safety figures too high and is taking steps to address the issue. Officials are urging pedestrians to stay off their phones near the tracks. The released video underscores the dangers of inattention around light rail tracks. With multiple fatalities and numerous near-misses recorded, authorities are pushing for greater awareness. They stress that avoiding phone use near the network could prevent further tragedies.