Over the years its not been uncommon to see or hear of cars driving onto tram tracks, and now West Midlands Metro have renewed their warnings to motorists who may be putting themselves and others at risk by doing so.
Motorists will not only have to worry about costly vehicle repairs if they ignore road signs as they are being warned that entering the tracks is not only dangerous and illegal and could lead to serious consequences.
Anthony Stanley, Metro’s Head of Operations and Safety, said: “As well as the obvious risk of serious injury or worse, this kind of careless behaviour can result in enforcement actions and prosecution where appropriate.
“The removal of stranded vehicles can cause significant disruption to services across the network. We work closely with the police and fully investigate any incident involving collisions between our trams, other road vehicles and our infrastructure.
“Motorists also need to remember that trams have a ‘swept path’ that extends well beyond the width of the tracks. We still see drivers parking right next to them, creating avoidable hazards and delays. Parking close to the tramway is unsafe and not permitted, as it can lead to avoidable disruption or damage.”
There have been a number of successful prosecutions over the past few years. In one case, a motorist entered the tracks near St Chad’s tramstop and received a 22-month disqualification, a substantial fine and a community order after being convicted of drink driving.
The Metro operator continue to invest in safety and security which is included upgrades to its advanced CCTV systems.
Anthony concluded: “Safety is always our number one priority, and we will not hesitate to report any vehicles that present a risk to our customers and colleagues, or disrupt services by blocking tracks. Our message to motorists is clear: pay attention to your surroundings when driving near the tramway, and always follow road markings, signage and signals, to help keep everyone safe.”