Re: Woman dies after being hit by tram

["David Bennetts" <davibenn@ozemail.com.au>]

"Dave Proctor" <daproc@spambait.ozemail.com.au> wrote in message
VQtm6.20062$Yx4.737870@news6.giganews.com">news:VQtm6.20062$Yx4.737870@news6.giganews.com...
> "David Bromage" <dbromage@fang.omni.com.au> wrote in message
> news:3A99EBF6.D2027201@fang.omni.com.au...
> > A 45 year old woman has died in the Alfred Hospital after being hit by a
> > tram in Prahran.
>
> What a silly tram, what was it doing running down the tram tracks, why
> didn't it get out of her way?
>
> Dave

Like the Manly ferry yesterday, the autopilot had a malfunction.  More
seriously though, why aren't modern trams fitted with lifeguard and gate
mechanisms like the old W class.  Pedestrians knocked down by a tram would
hit the gate section, the lifeguard drops onto the track and scoops up the
hapless victim before they get sliced under the wheels.  You simply pull the
bruised and battered body off the lifeguard, the driver gets back into the
cab, stomps on the resetting pedal, clang clang and he's off again.
Commonly in the USA streetcars were fitted with a rope netting protruding at
the front, so wayward pedestrians would get scooped up before going under
the car.  Perhaps Toorak tractors should carry these devices rather than
unyielding bullbars.

Regards

David Bennetts