IT may save a second, but it could cost a lifetime.
That's the message from Newcastle light rail drivers and operators, who on Monday released CCTV footage detailing the dangers of failing to obey the rules around trams.
The footage shows collisions, near-misses and other chaos with the potential to turn lethal and tragic.
Newcastle tram driver Peter Samdell urged people to take in their surroundings more.
"Light rail vehicles are huge, weighing 50 tonnes, so once you get going, it can be hard to stop," he said.
"While our tram drivers use every possible safety measure to avoid a collision, at the end of the day, we need the community to play its part."
He said the precautions needed were straightforward.
"For road users it is as simple as following the road rules and paying attention when behind the wheel," he said.
"For pedestrians, only cross at the designated pedestrian crossings and when the light is green and put your phone away to make sure you are alert to your surroundings.
Monday marked the beginning of Rail Safety Week, prompting the release of footage recorded in just the past year.
It is not the first time the near-misses in Newcastle have prompted gasps, but network operators are concerned that the warnings continue to go unheeded.
"This year's CCTV footage is very concerning," Keolis Downer Hunter general manager Emmanuel Genlot said.
"The Newcastle light rail has been in operation for five years now, and unfortunately, we continue to see complacency from the community around the network."
Mr Genlot said that drivers had taken their lives in their hands driving along the tracks and running red lights, including on Stewart Avenue and Steel Street.
Some had failed to escape a collision with the trams as a result.
"We also continue to see pedestrians running across the tracks, resulting in tripping and falling on to the road," he said.
"Our tram drivers do a great job in anticipating driver behaviour, as some of these incidents could have had a very different ending.
"I want to remind the community that these dangerous actions have a broader impact, not only on the individual, but on tram drivers, passengers, and the wider community."
Newcastle Transport will run a campaign throughout the week urging people to take extra steps, including cyclists maintaining a safe distance from carriages and staying off the tracks.
