Media centre

Tuesday 26 Jul 2011

SAFETY SURVEY: MYTHS MEAN PARENTS COULD PUT CHILDREN AT RISK

Region & Route:

Scotland’s Railway: Scotland

• New parents’ survey reveals majority don’t teach their children about keeping safe near the railway and do not understand the dangers of electricity

• New shock video released to warn of dangers

Network Rail has released a hard-hitting video about the severe consequences of trespassing or messing about near the railway as a new survey reveals 61% of parents in Scotland have not discussed railway safety with their children.

The survey also revealed that:

• 15% of parents had trespassed on the operational railway in the past
• 11% think electric railway lines are only live while trains are passing through
• 64% didn’t realise you don’t have to touch the overhead power lines to get a shock

As the summer holidays continue to show youngsters trespassing on the railway, Network Rail has also launched the powerful video to specifically highlight the dangers of electricity.

The video features a skin biology specialist and a Network Rail electrical engineer, sending a stark message about the power of the current used to run trains and the consequences of coming into contact with it. Mixed with graphic images of people who have suffered burns, the experts talk about how the power used in overhead wires is 10-times more powerful than an electric chair, and recount stories of people who have had their clothes set alight and the coins in their pockets melted.

David Simpson, Network Rail’s route managing director for Scotland, said: “Thankfully the number of people killed or hurt on the railways is coming down, but every death or injury is preventable. As our video shows, receiving an electric shock is horrific and could affect you for the rest of your life, if you’re not killed.

“Our community safety team work tirelessly with young people across the country to warn them of the dangers and encourage them to get involved in safer and more positive activities. However, we are concerned that many parents are very much in the dark about the dangers of trespassing or playing near the railway. Even though the majority of trespassers aren’t hurt, these crimes are not harmless and can result in huge delays and costs. We hope that by getting out this stark warning we can help banish the myths about rail safety and ultimately save lives.”

British Transport Police Superintendent Eddie Wylie added: “During the summer holidays we unfortunately see an increase in offences on the rail network. So we are hoping that by targeting hotspot areas, and through the education work we have already done, we will reduce the number of incidents and deter youngsters from seeing the railway as a place to hang out or play.

"The railway is such as dangerous environment, trains cannot stop quickly or swerve, and are often not seen or heard until it is too late. I cannot emphasise strongly enough the dangers associated with this type of crime. One of the worst jobs a police officer has to do is break it to a parent that their child has been seriously injured, disfigured for life or killed; and it's so unnecessary. A little thought by parents and carers will save us having to make that painful visit.

“I am appealing to parents and adults to emphasise the dangers to your children this school holiday, and if you live near the railway, ask yourself if you know where your children are playing.”

Gary Cooper, Head of Operations at the Association of Train Operating Companies (ATOC), said: “People playing on or near railways not only put themselves in serious danger of injury, they also cause disruption affecting thousands of passengers trying to go to work, visit friends or travelling for their business.

“We don’t want people hurt and we know how important running trains on time is to our customers. This is why train companies are working with the rest of the industry to keep people safe and to make sure record numbers of trains arrive on time.”