Narrow escapes on level crossings revealed
A rail company have revealed some hair-raising photos and video footage of people who've had narrow escapes on level crossings - including a woman with a pushchair and an van driver who crosses the tracks and then turns back.Network Rail hope the images will discourage other people from hoping to cut a couple of seconds off their journey by dodging the locomotives.
They have also revealed the top ten worst excuses staff have been given by people caught crossing when they shouldn't, these include, "I thought the train would slow down" and "The sat-nav told me to turn left so I just kept going"
Given other people said things like "Sometimes it’s difficult to stop the horse," we dread to think what excuses people who didn't make it would have used.
Iain Coucher, Network Rail chief executive commented: "The rules around level crossings are clear and simple. When the lights flash or the barriers are down, don’t cross; a train is approaching.
"Signs asking users to stop, look and listen or reminding you to contact the signaller before crossing are clear and must be followed.
"We understand that people have busy lives and waiting can be frustrating. Our campaign asks ‘would it kill you to wait?’ because sadly we know that not waiting can result in tragedy – and there’s no excuse for that."
Ten worst excuses given to Network Rail level crossing teams by motorists and pedestrians caught breaking the rules at level crossings
- I thought the train would slow down to let me through
- I thought that the train driver was giving way to me when he sounded his horn
- I know when the trains run around here
- Lights? No, I don’t bother looking at them, I only stop when the barriers start coming down – I wouldn’t want to damage the car.
- I’m glad you reminded me to look before crossing I don’t normally bother - mind you I was nearly knocked down by a train a few weeks ago.
- By a motorist obstructing the yellow box markings: I don’t need the likes of you to tell me about road or level crossing safety, I was a Police driving instructor for 30 years.
- I didn’t see the gate coming down as I approached the crossing – I was completely blinded by it. I was driving straight into the sun and it was also reflecting very brightly off the surface of the wet road so I could hardly see anything at all. (note Highway Code point 237 below)
- Sometimes it’s difficult to stop the horse
- The sat-nav told me to turn left so I just kept going
- I just followed the person in front of me. I didn’t look.
Network Rail
