Driver fined after near-miss at Auckland level crossing
Friday 16 October 2026 · 3 outlets · 3 reports · updated In this story Green Party, Chlöe Swarbrick
A motorist has been issued a $150 infringement notice after driving through a red signal at a Morningside Drive level crossing on 5 October. The incident occurred while Green Party co-leaders were conducting a press conference regarding level crossing safety. Police stated the driver passed through the crossing while barriers were down and lights were flashing.
Key facts
3 facts
- Driver fined $150 for failing to stop at a red signal
- Incident occurred at 10.35am on 5 October at Morningside Drive, Auckland
- Green Party policy proposes $2.5 billion to remove Western Line level crossings
The full story
1 min read · 3 outlets
A motorist has been issued a $150 infringement notice after driving through a red signal at a Morningside Drive level crossing in Auckland. The incident occurred around 10.35am on 5 October while Green Party co-leaders Marama Davidson and Chlöe Swarbrick were announcing a policy to fund the removal of level crossings on the Western Line. As the co-leaders spoke to the media, a car in a line of traffic pulled out and crossed the tracks while the safety barriers were down and warning lights were flashing.
The train driver sounded the horn as the vehicle passed in front of the approaching train. The event was captured on a livestream, prompting Swarbrick to remark, "Did you see that? That was someone driving across the crossing as the train was coming". Davidson described the event as "really dangerous".
Police Inspector Jacqui Whittaker stated that the driver was located and was apologetic for the error. Whittaker noted that no one was injured but warned that failing to obey warning systems puts lives in danger. KiwiRail chief metro officer Bevan Assink described the behaviour as "incredibly reckless" and noted that trains take longer to stop than people realise.
The Green Party's proposed policy involves using $2.5 billion from the National Land Transport Fund to remove level crossings. The party claims this would allow Auckland Transport to run more than 12 trains per hour on the Western Line and reduce congestion. Between 2013 and 2023, Auckland saw almost 70 crashes and hundreds of vehicle and pedestrian near-misses at level crossings.
Where reports differ
- One report notes the incident occurred weeks after another near-miss in Henderson on 15 September, while others do not mention it
Compiled from reports by 1News, NZ Herald and Otago Daily Times.
