New safety enforcement cameras to stop dangerous misuse at level crossing in Richmond: Image 2, l-r Priti Patel, Network Rail Head of Route Health and Safety - Cllr Stephen Speak - Zac Goldsmith MP - Mark O'Flynn, Level Crossing Manager, Network Rail

Friday 20 May 2016

New safety enforcement cameras to stop dangerous misuse at level crossing in Richmond

Region & Route:
| Southern: Wessex
| Southern

State-of-the-art safety equipment has been installed at the White Hart Lane level crossing by Network Rail and Richmond Council. The aim is to reduce the high levels of dangerous misuse which is currently taking place.

The scheme involves a new red light safety equipment camera at White Hart Lane level crossing, which is able to identify all vehicles that fail to comply with the stop signals and instead try to cross after the red lights start flashing.

Network Rail’s early assessment indicates that there are currently between 70-90 incidents of misuse at White Hart Lane level crossing each day, with between 10-20 enforceable offences per day under the Road Traffic Act 1988.

The evidence the cameras provide will be used to directly prosecute drivers who fail to comply with the stop signals using a brand new collaborative procedure between the British Transport Police and Network Rail.

Mark O’Flynn, Level Crossing Manager at Network Rail, said: “White Hart Lane level crossing is a notorious hotspot for drivers risking their lives. Drivers jumping the barriers are no joke and it puts lives in danger; not only those in the car, but also nearby pedestrians and train passengers. 

“We want these cameras to act as a deterrent to this kind of reckless behaviour in the first place. It also gives us the direct ability to follow up prosecutions against those people who are continuing to offend.”

These types of cameras were first introduced at 28 level crossings in 2015, and have since proven to be extremely successful with driver non-compliance which is down by as much as 90% at some crossings.

Richmond Council’s Cabinet Member for Highways and Streetscene, Cllr Stephen Speak, said: “Local residents have long been concerned about safety at this level crossing and we therefore welcome the deployment of these new enforcement cameras. The council has been working closely with Network Rail to improve safety at this crossing. This is a significant step and we look forward to continuing this work with the aim of securing a new pedestrian footbridge which would provide a safe, segregated crossing and reduce the crowding and delays currently experienced at track level.”

Where applicable, offenders can be offered the option of a driver education and awareness training course designed by the BTP and Network Rail to educate drivers of the dangers they present when they abuse our crossings. Most prosecutions result in drivers opting for the course rather than a fine and points and to date, and we have not had a single person caught re-offending at our crossings.

Contact information

Passengers / community members
Network Rail national helpline
03457 11 41 41

Latest travel advice
Please visit National Rail Enquiries

Journalists
Network Rail press office - Owen Johns
Media relations manager (Wessex route)
07710 959476
Owen.Johns@networkrail.co.uk

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