Media centre

Tuesday 10 Aug 2004

IGNORE THE LIGHTS – PAY THE PENALTY

Region & Route:

| Southern

Drivers who ignore the flashing red warning lights at Shiplake railway crossing now risk being caught on CCTV camera.  This means they are even more likely to be prosecuted and fined or imprisoned.             Shiplake railway crossing is an open crossing with red warning lights, which flash when a train is approaching. Signs on the approach clearly warn drivers they must STOP when the lights flash.  Ignoring the lights not only breaks the law, but can have fatal consequences. Andy Coston, Network Rail General Manager said: “Railway crossings are 100% safe when used correctly. Safety at railway crossings is simple: when the lights are flashing – stop! However we’ve had to take the radical step of installing cameras to try and deter the public from misusing the crossing.” At Shiplake in the past ten years there have been two collisions and 22 near misses, although thankfully there have been no fatalities.              British Transport Police Constable Bob Burrows continued:  “We will prosecute wherever possible to highlight how dangerous it is to ignore the warnings.  Impatience could lead to fatalities, so take note of this warning and stop when the lights are flashing.” -more- Shiplake - 2             The cameras, which Network Rail spent £13,000 installing, are activated when the crossing lights start flashing. If a train driver then reports a near miss the footage is passed to the British Transport Police. A Notice of Intended Prosecution is immediately sent to the road vehicle driver and the incident details are sent to the Crown Prosecution Service.  The CPS takes these incidents very seriously and will prosecute for one of three offences: failure to observe traffic signals; endangering the safety of a train; and endangering safety with intent.  The steepest penalty is life imprisonment.