10/03/2010

Initiative Tackles Level Crossing Abuse

British Transport Police (BTP) have welcomed Network Rail's crackdown on level crossing misues.

Officers from the transport police have been working alongside rail management to tackle the problem.

Over the last four months BTP have run initiatives across Britain as part of Operation Galley.

Dozens of motorists have been warned, given fixed penalties or prosecuted and local publicity has meant that many others have been made aware of the importance of not misusing crossings.

Welcoming today's renewed initiative by Network Rail on reducing level crossing misuse, British Transport Police Deputy Chief Constable Paul Crowther said: "Level crossing incidents are almost wholly avoidable and changing driver and pedestrian behaviour has to be a major part of the long term solution.

"The Network Rail proposal calling for specific level crossing knowledge at the point of driver testing is clearly aimed at achieving that change.

"BTP meanwhile has been looking at how some of the lessons from successful roads policing initiatives can also be applied."

Research shows that installing fixed cameras on roads can have a significant effect in reducing speeding offences at that location by up to 70%.

"Similar installations at level crossings, combined with awareness campaigns present an opportunity to achieve sustainable changes in driver behaviour," said DCC Crowther.

"We are keen to explore these opportunities with NWR and others at pilot locations.

"These would combine with current plans to deploy mobile cameras and driver retraining schemes," he added.

(PR/BMcc)

Related UK National News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.

17 May 2006
Network Rail launches level crossing warning campaign
Network Rail has launched a £3 million campaign warning people of the danger of misusing level crossings. The Don't Run The Risk campaign includes a television advert which shows the damage caused by a train hitting a car on a level crossing.
07 May 2014
Man Dies On Malton Rail Level Crossing Crash
A 77-year-old man has died after his car was struck by a train at Ivy Lea rail level crossing in Scampston, North Yorkshire at around 9.15 on Wednesday morning. The train involved was the 08.48 BTS Scarborough to Liverpool Lime Street TransPennine Express Service.
07 March 2014
Network Rail Apologise Over Level Crossing Deaths
The House of Commons Transport Committee has highly criticised Network Rail in a report for its "callous disregard" over crossing victims relatives. They urged the firm to apologise for the way they have handled the tragedies in the past and also warned about the danger level crossings.
16 September 2014
Driver Arrested After Car Crashes Into Train At Level Crossing
An investigation has been launched into an incident in which a car collided with a train in Berkshire. British Transport Police have confirmed a car crashed into a train at a level crossing at Datchet in Berkshire at about 06:05 this morning. It is understood that the 67-year-old female driver was not injured in the collision.
21 March 2013
Motorist Killed In Level Crossing Collision
A motorist has been killed after being hit by a train at a level crossing around 06:30 on Thursday morning in Somerset. Initial reports suggest the barrier at the level crossing on the Stanmoor Road crossing near Athelney, on the line between Taunton and Castle Cary was lowered and that the driver had tried to weave round it.