Bonehead

Bonehead is one of the three railway safety mascots that represent the original purpose of the Dumb Ways to Die campaign. His bright yellow color makes him stand out, and his specific behavior - driving around boom gates at a level crossing - represents one of the most dangerous and unfortunately common behaviors around trains. The name "Bonehead" perfectly captures the foolishness of thinking you can beat a train. As part of Metro Trains Melbourne's 2012 safety campaign, Bonehead's character was created to address a serious problem: too many people were risking their lives trying to save a few seconds by going around or through boom gates. The campaign's data showed that boom gate violations were a leading cause of railway accidents and fatalities. By presenting this dangerous behavior through a cute, cartoonish character meeting a tragic end, the campaign made the message memorable without being preachy. What makes Bonehead's story particularly impactful is how it reflects real-world decision-making. People who drive around boom gates typically aren't trying to die - they're just impatient, running late, or convinced they can make it. Bonehead embodies this everyday arrogance that can have devastating consequences. His character serves as a reminder that no amount of hurry is worth risking your life, and that boom gates exist for a reason.

Bonehead's minigame is all about timing and patience - ironically teaching the exact opposite of his fatal behavior. In the games, players must wait for the right moment to proceed through railway crossings, respecting safety signals and boom gates. The challenge tests whether players can resist the temptation to rush, mirroring the real-world decision that cost Bonehead his life. In the original Dumb Ways to Die, the boom gate minigame requires players to time their crossing precisely when the gates are fully up. The game deliberately creates pressure by making players wait, testing their patience. Moving too early results in instant failure, teaching the lesson that rushing around railway safety equipment is never worth it. Dumb Ways to Die 2 expands on this concept with more complex crossing scenarios. Players might need to navigate multiple tracks, watch for multiple trains, or deal with malfunctioning signals that require extra caution. These variations reinforce the core message: railway safety requires attention, patience, and strict adherence to safety signals, not clever shortcuts or risk-taking.