Quoting david_mcloughlin_melbourne mcloughlin.dj@...>:

> Russell Redfern wrote:

>> Anyone who has ridden trams in Melbourne in more recent times will

>> understand that many motorists do not stop for stationary trams and

>> and there are many accidents waiting to happen.

>

> Most motorists do stop, however.

>

> And importantly, there do not appear to be large numbers of deaths

> or injuries of tram passengers being mown down by motorists as said

> passengers get on or off trams.

>

> I use trams almost every day and almost always, motorists respect

> the law. Of course almost every day some don't, but the passengers

> boarding or alighting do look before they leap.

>

> The "Rhino" campaign and the various deaths and injuries reported on

> this group suggest that most "tram casualties" are pedestrians who

> walk without looking or hearing in front of moving trams. The sound

> from their earphones or they concentration on their facebook updates

> on their iPhones seems to mean they do not have an awareness of what

> is happening around them as they walk.

>

> Not sure where this will lead but it's not the fault of either trams

> or motorists.


Much of my recent experience as a passenger boarding or alighting from
trams has been in Royal Parade, Parkville (route 19). My observation
there is that almost all Victorian motorists (as shown by their number
plates) stop or at least almost stop, but once there's nobody between
the tram and the kerb some will start to creep past, even if the doors
aren't yet closed. Interstate drivers are distinctly worse, and there
are more of them in Royal Parade than in most other streets. Cyclists
are the worst. Pedestrians are their own wort enemy -- many's the time
my heart has been in my mouth as I see people crossing in front of or
behind a tram, almost directly into the path of one coming the other
way: the stop on the city side of the Haymarket Roundabout, in
Elizabeth St, and at Grattan St (Royal Melb Hospital/University) in
Royal Parade, are particularly frightening. Maybe "wrong"-side island
stops will help.

Hal Cain, tram passenger for over 60 years

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