Media centre

Thursday 10 Dec 2015

Driving home level crossing safety to Britain’s biggest road fleets this Christmas

Region & Route:

National

As thousands of drivers take to the roads to deliver the estimated 200m parcels that have been ordered in the run-up to Christmas, Network Rail has teamed up with some of the biggest road fleets in Britain to help drivers stay safe at level crossings this winter. 

Postmen and women from Royal Mail delivering millions of Christmas cards, TNT couriers bringing presents to be wrapped and drivers from Veolia taking away cardboard boxes from Christmas presents will all be given advice on staying safe when crossing the railway as part of Network Rail’s latest targeted level crossing safety campaign.

Safety posters and leaflets are being sent to depots across the country and drivers have also been supplied with air fresheners to hang in their cabs that provide helpful tips on how to use level crossings safely. One has even been sent to the world’s most famous Christmas delivery driver based at the North Pole …

Britain has the safest railway in Europe but in the last five years there have been almost 150 near misses and six collisions involving commercial vehicles and trains at level crossings.

Darren Furness, head of level crossing safety at Network Rail, said: “We know that the winter months can be an extremely demanding time for people who drive for a living. Increased demand for goods, the need to meet delivery deadlines, short daylight hours and poor weather conditions all put extra pressure on drivers.

“To help keep them and others using the railway safe during this busy time, we’ve given drivers some top tips to remind them how to safely use level crossings whenever they get behind the wheel. We hope these will help reduce the number of accidents and make sure those Christmas cards and presents are delivered safely to your door.”

Network Rail’s new campaign aims to encourage safer behaviour to keep commercial drivers from harm at level crossings, reminding them:

• That amber warning lights at road level crossings means ‘stop – a train is coming’. *
• To be extra cautious as they approach crossings in icy conditions; salt cannot be laid down on crossings as it increases the rate of corrosion of the steel rails
• To never assume that there is only one train coming or think that they know the timetable to guess when a train might come.
• To beware of distractions. Loud music may mean that the driver doesn’t hear the alarms sounded at level crossings or an oncoming train.

Neil Griffiths, Director of Health Safety and Environmental at TNT UK, said: “At TNT we take the safety of our drivers and other road users very seriously and, as such, we are delighted to support this important safety campaign.

“While our drivers are trained to the highest standards, it is always worth reminding them, other drivers and even pedestrians of the dangers around the railway lines, particularly at crossings.”

Nicholas Burns, safety, health and environment engagement manager at Royal Mail, added: “As a company whose employees use level crossings across the whole country, Royal Mail looks forward to working with Network Rail to increase awareness of hazards at these locations.”

In addition to these national partnerships, Network Rail’s 100 dedicated level crossing managers will be delivering this safety message to drivers at companies with large commercial fleets all over the country.

The comercial drivers crossing campaign is the fifth in a series of targeted campaigns to high risk groups of level crossing users. These began in June 2015, with messages aimed at cyclists, dog-walkers, farmers and students. 

ENDS

Notes to editors:

* Section 293 of the Highway Code states you should only keep going on an amber light if you have already crossed the stop line when they come on: “AMBER means ‘Stop’ at the stop line. You may go on only if the AMBER appears after you have crossed the stop line or are so close to it that to pull up might cause an accident”.

Network Rail is investing £100m into its programme to improve level crossing safety as part of its Railway Upgrade Plan. Since 2010 it has:

• Closed over 980 level crossings
• Replaced footpath crossings with footbridges
• Installing warning lights as an additional safety measure at footpath crossings
• Launched a new schools programme – Rail Life – teaching both primary and secondary school children about how to stay safe when crossing the railway
• Rolled out safety camera enforcement vans
• Invested in new technology such as the obstacle detection radar technology
• Introduced power operated gate openers
• Installed spoken warnings to announce when “another train is coming” after one train has passed through
• Employed more than 100 dedicated level crossing managers