Media centre

Monday 20 Apr 2009

SAFETY BLITZ SHOWS RAIL SAFETY MESSAGE IS GETTING THROUGH TO MOTORISTS

Region & Route:

| Southern

Drivers using East Anglia’s top ‘hot spot’ for level crossing misuse received a surprise visit from Network Rail’s community safety team and officers from both the British Transport Police and the Ministry of Defence ahead of the busy Easter weekend. The event, part of Network Rail’s ‘Don’t Run the Risk’ campaign, took place at the level crossing in Lakenheath, Suffolk on Wednesday 8 April.

Drivers using the crossing were recently named and shamed by Network Rail as being responsible for the highest number of reported incidents of misuse, including ignoring warning lights and driving round closing barriers.

With almost 1000 level crossing across the Anglia region, it’s clear that the vast majority of drivers and pedestrians are using them safely and responsibly on a daily basis. However, there are a number of ‘hot spot’ areas across the region where drivers and pedestrians are continually flouting the law and putting their lives in danger.

Last year there were 20 reported incidents of level crossing misuse at Lakenheath, with three of these resulting in a potentially fatal near miss with a train. Thankfully, the team witnessed no such incidents during their three-hour visit and they managed to speak to approximately 100 drivers, raising awareness of the dangers of level crossing misuse among local motorists.

Anne-Marie Batson, Network Rail community safety manager, said: “Drivers using Lakenheath crossing have unfortunately been responsible for a large number of dangerous and reckless incidents which put their own lives, and those of rail passengers, at risk.

Our stats show that this crossing falls foul of drivers breaking the law and risking their lives more than any other crossing in the Anglia region, so it was especially pleasing that we didn’t witness any examples of misuse during our recent visit. It goes to show that the message is getting through – don’t run the risk.”