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Wednesday 30 Apr 2025

Distracted Brits in the South East risking it all at pedestrian level crossings, warns Network Rail

Region & Route:

Southern

| Southern: Kent

| Southern: Sussex

| Southern: Wessex

• Nearly half of people from the South East (47%) admit they’ve made a mistake, such as missing their train or locking themselves out of the house, while being distracted by their phone.
• Young people are among the most distracted with 87% of Gen Z and 70% of Millennials admitting to mistakes, compared to just 22% of Boomers.
• Over the past four years there have been 1,574 reported near miss incidents across the railway network involving pedestrians at level crossings.
• “The consequences of a split-second decision can be life-altering,” says Lucy Ruck who lost her leg in a level crossing incident.

Network Rail has released shocking CCTV footage showing the danger of pedestrian distractions at level crossings. The montage footage highlights the potential risks of losing focus near a railway line, from a teenager stood in the middle of a level crossing gazing at their mobile phone, to a pram-pushing couple failing to observe safety barrier alarms.

The release of the footage comes as new research* commissioned by Network Rail reveals nearly half of people from the South East (47%) admit they’ve made a mistake, such as missing their train or locking themselves out of the house, while being distracted by their phone. National data shows young people are among the most distracted with 87% of Gen Z and 70% of Millennials admitting these mistakes, compared to just 22% of Boomers.

Mobile phones are a major cause of distractions, impacting young people the most. The data shows Gen Z are more likely than Boomers to have walked into something or someone (47% v 7%), walked in the wrong direction (39% v 5%), or dropped something (39% v 8%) whilst being distracted by their phone.

In a world full of distractions, Network Rail is warning of the more serious consequences of being distracted at level crossings. Over the past four years**, there have been 1,574 recorded near miss incidents involving pedestrians at level crossings. Over that same period, incidents have increased on average by 16% from April to May.

The research also found a concerning lack of caution around level crossings, with over a third of people from the South East (35%) admitting they are more careful when crossing roads – even at zebra or traffic light crossings – compared to level crossings.

There are 6,000 level crossings in operation across the country and every level crossing is different depending on the surroundings and its usage.

Incidents on level crossings can be fatal or life changing. Lucy Ruck was only 17 when she lost her leg in a railway incident at Farnborough North level crossing. Thirty years later, she has turned her experience into positive action by successfully campaigning for an accessible footbridge at the same station and highlighting the importance of safety at level crossings to raise awareness and prevent similar accidents.

Lucy said: “The consequences of a split-second decision can be life-altering. I know this all too well from my own accident. I wasn’t being deliberately reckless or rushing, but perhaps because I used the station every day and knew it so well, I’d become a bit complacent. I went with everyone else without stopping to think for myself. Remember, no appointment or destination is worth risking your life for. Always look carefully and never assume it’s safe to cross. It’s better to be late in this world, than early in the next.”

The new accessible footbridge at Farnborough North station recently opened simultaneously with the closure of the adjacent level crossing to pedestrians. While the crossing remains open to motorists, the new footbridge is fully accessible with lifts to both platforms and provides a safe and accessible way for pedestrians to cross the tracks as well as reducing the risk associated with level crossings.

For the last few years, it was one of only three crossings in the country that was so dangerous it had to be staffed while trains were running to keep people safe. The crossing served not only as a cross-community link but also the only access from platform to platform and therefore meant that all train users, including a large volume of school children and college students had to use it daily.

Thomas Desmond, Network Rail Operations Director, said: "Level crossings demand your full attention, yet complacency and distraction are putting lives at risk, contributing to hundreds of dangerous near misses annually. Whether it’s glancing at a phone or simply assuming the track is clear, these lapses in concentration can be fatal. We urge everyone to stop, look, listen and obey the signals every single time. Waiting a few minutes is infinitely better than risking everything.”

Gemma Briggs is a Professor of Applied Cognitive Psychology at the Open University and studies the impact of distractions on our daily lives. Professor Briggs commented: “While you may feel able to multitask when using your phone, research shows you can fail to notice important events and hazards which happen right in front of you. You don’t notice them because your mind is on your phone, and your attention is spread too thinly. This ‘inattentional blindness’ is particularly problematic in safety critical situations such as at level crossings. The best course of action is to put your phone away and focus your full attention on crossing safely.”

Andrew Gallaugher, GWR Station Manager for the North Downs, said: “We were delighted to officially open these facilities recently – providing a more accessible, safer station environment for all who use it.

“Farnborough North is a very important station for both residents and visitors and we are delighted to have been able to work with Network Rail to deliver these improvements, which removes the risks associated with crossing the railway.

“We know that working together means we can deliver more and we are committed to a cooperative, collaborative approach with the communities we serve.”

To learn more about level crossing safety, visit: https://www.networkrail.co.uk/communities/safety-in-the-community/level-crossing-safety/