ENFIELD RAIL CROSSING LAW-BREAKERS CAUGHT OUT BY SAFETY CRACKDOWN

Friday 6 Nov 2009

ENFIELD RAIL CROSSING LAW-BREAKERS CAUGHT OUT BY SAFETY CRACKDOWN

Region & Route:: | Eastern: Anglia; | Eastern

- Impatient mother puts child at risk
- 13 car drivers warned by police in less than four hours
- Four £50 fines dished out to law-breaking pedestrians

Drivers and pedestrians who put their lives at risk by dodging the barriers and ignoring the warning lights at Enfield Lock level crossing got a nasty surprise during a safety crackdown.

User of the crossing were named and shamed by Network Rail earlier this year as the worst behaved in the capital, with a dozen recorded incidents of misuse in 2008 including two near misses involving pedestrians and passing trains. However, the real level of misuse is thought to be much higher.

Network Rail and British Transport Police officers were at the crossing on the morning of Wednesday 28 October, handing out leaflets and speaking to drivers and pedestrians about the dangers of misusing level crossings – and also catching out any unsuspecting crossing users who deliberately flouted the law.

Between 7.30am and 11am alone, 13 drivers were given official warnings by the BTP about their conduct at the crossing and will face a court appearance if caught again. Four pedestrians were given £50 fixed penalty notices, including one woman who put herself and her child at risk when she tried to cross after the barriers began to close, ignoring the warning lights and siren. Her pushchair had to be lifted over the barriers to safety by BTP officers.

Anne-Marie Batson, Network Rail community safety manager, said: “Exercises like this are absolutely vital to get the message through to drivers and pedestrians that running the risk at level crossings is not only dangerous, it carries tough penalties too.”

BTP Acting Sergeant Scott Darrah, who led the enforcement, said: “The woman concerned was extremely lucky to escape with her life. Incidents such as these can often end in tragedy, which is why we continue to work in an effective partnership with Network Rail.”

Notes to editors

London level crossing incidents – top ten worst motorist and pedestrian behaviour:

Enfield Lock (Enfield) 12 incl. 2 near misses
Windmill Lane (Cheshunt) 11
Green Street, Brimsdown (Enfield) 11
Vine Road, Barnes (Richmond) 10
White Hart Lane, Barnes (Richmond) 10
Marsh Lane, Northumberland Park (Haringey) 9
Churchfield Road, Acton Central (Ealing) 8 incl. 2 near misses
Sheen Lane, Mortlake (Richmond) 7 incl. 1 near miss
Feltham West (Hounslow) 7
West Barnes Lane, Barnes (Richmond) 7

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.”
“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.”

Facts about levels crossings:

·         Level crossings are safe if used correctly
·         95% of accidents at level crossings are caused by misuse or error
·         i.e. drivers ignoring red signals, barriers and klaxons
·         There are over 7,600 level crossings both on public and private land that cut across the UK railway network
·         UK deaths at level crossings are low by international standards – amongst the lowest in Europe and worldwide

The work on Network Rail’s Don’t Run the Risk campaign runs in parallel with other Network Rail and industry initiatives to minimise the safety risk at level crossings. These include:

·         Network Rail’s dedicated community safety team which aims to reduce railway crime and provide young people with positive activities to fill their time
·         Development of solutions which could lead to the replacement of some crossings
·         Development of obstacle detection systems
·         Developing better and cost-effective ways of detecting and recording level crossings misuse
·         Working with the Police and Crown Prosecution Service to improve the prosecution of offenders

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 - South East route
020 3357 7969
southeastroutecomms@networkrail.co.uk

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