Terrifying footage captures seconds from disaster as urgent warning issued to the public
Alarming footage of near misses on Sydney’s light rail network has been released as part of a new safety campaign, with authorities warning that one moment of distraction could prove fatal.
The confronting video shows unaware pedestrians and drivers coming dangerously close to being struck by light rail vehicles, with the difference between a near miss and tragedy measured in centimetres or milliseconds.
In the first four months of this year alone, there were eight collisions on the network, with a further 127 near-misses recorded.
The NSW state government says the figures are too high and is taking a stand on safety.
“Light rail vehicles weigh the equivalent of 60 cars,” transport minister John Graham told 7NEWS. “They can’t swerve. They can’t avoid a pedestrian in the lane. And they can be fatal.”
The dangers are real. In June last year, a man in his 40s died in Surry Hills when jumping between carriages. A 16-year-old girl was killed in Haymarket in 2023 from the same action.
“This footage should be a real wake-up call for people,” Graham said. “We’re asking people to take care.”
Mobile phones are being identified as a major contributing factor, with distracted pedestrians failing to look up from their devices as they approach the tracks.
“Please stay off your phone when you’re near the light rail,” Graham said.
