THE number of narrowly-avoided collisions between trains and road vehicles on level crossings is increasing, Network Rail has warned, in spite of a series of high-profile publicity campaigns highlighting the risks of ignoring the rules.
Lorries are involved most frequently, accounting for 32 per cent of recorded incidents, but cars are not far behind, at 28 per cent. Other users, such as cyclists and pedestrians, are further down the list.
There are 46 incidents on British level crossings during a typical week and one factor is distraction, which can cause drivers to overlook the warning lights. Another risk is the large number of motorists who disregard the ‘box junction’ rules, which mean that a vehicle should not enter a yellow hatched area, such as a level crossing, unless the exit is plainly clear. As a result cars queue across the railway, which leaves them stationary and vulnerable in the crossing’s danger zone.
Network Rail has released some new CCTV footage, while a study by Populus on behalf of Network Rail has revealed that in the Anglia region alone over a third of drivers (37 per cent) felt their passengers were their biggest distraction while driving. Over a quarter (28 per cent), blamed children in the car or being late as the top reasons for not waiting at a crossing.
The survey also suggested that a lack of knowledge may be to blame, with 26 per cent of motorists in Anglia reporting they have never been taught how to use a level crossing. In this region alone, British Transport Police has investigated 521 traffic offences involving level crossings over the past year. Road users have obstructed the yellow box, ignored red lights or overtaken on double white lines.
Network Rail head of safety for Anglia, Richard Tew, said: ‘It’s clear that there is a lack of knowledge around how dangerous railway crossings can be. We are seeing drivers take risks at level crossings every day – putting themselves and others in danger. Nothing is worth risking your life over, just to save a few minutes of time.
‘We are investing more than £100 million to improve level crossing safety across Britain as part of the Railway Upgrade Plan, but we also need drivers to obey the law at level crossings. By staying behind the barrier and out of the yellow box, until it is safe to cross and paying attention to the warnings at level crossings, we can all keep ourselves and those in our vehicles out of harm’s way.’