Light rail near-miss under investigation
Transport Canberra has launched an investigation after dashcam footage emerged showing a car's near-miss with a light rail vehicle.
The video, posted to the Canberra Drivers Facebook page on Sunday, shows a tram running through a T-intersection at Randwick Street in Mitchell when the driver at the cross street had a green light.
It is unclear whether the tram ran a red light or the signal malfunctioned. Transport Canberra said it was investigating the incident.
Separately, another woman has told The Canberra Times she had a similar experience while turning right from Mouat Street in Lyneham on to Northbourne Avenue last Monday around 8am.
"We got the green arrow and straight through light and then all had to come to a stop because a tram went sailing through. Fortunately our light had only just changed and we stopped just a car length over the line and not in any kind of hurry. But he definitely didn't have a green light," she said.
ACT Policing said the incident captured on dashcam had not been reported to police, nor were their traffic operations officers aware of any similar incidents.
It comes after a man was struck by a tram undergoing testing at the intersection of Northbourne Avenue and Barry Drive on Saturday.
The man, who suffered injuries to his upper body and legs, was said to have stepped in front of the light rail vehicle against a red signal while wearing headphones.
The ACT Opposition's transport spokeswoman Candice Burch said the government "owes it" to the Canberra community to audit and report on all incidents that have occurred during construction and testing.
βIt is unclear if the light rail vehicle ran a red light, or if this is a signalling failure. Either way, the public safety concerns are significant and Canberrans deserve a full explanation for the minister as a matter of urgency,β Ms Burch said.
More to come.
Do you know more? Email katie.burgess@canberratimes.com.au