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Friday 15 Apr 2016

Safety warning issued after a spike in motorists ignoring level crossing warnings in Carmarthenshire

Region & Route:

| Wales & Western: Wales & Borders

| Wales & Western

Motorists are being reminded the importance of obeying signals and signs at level crossings following a spike in misuse incidents in Whitland, Carmarthenshire.

Four misuse incidents, involving vehicles jumping the red road lights before the barriers were lowered, were reported in March at Whitland level crossing. Three were recorded in three hours by the Mobile Safety Vehicle on Sunday 17 March and a fourth incident was recorded on Sunday 24 March.

Christine Booth, operations risk advisor for Network Rail Wales said: “I cannot stress enough the danger motorists are placing themselves and others in by not using the crossing correctly. By not stopping when the lights show at a level crossing they are risking their lives and the safety of other. Trying to save two minutes by jumping a level crossing isn’t worth the potentially devastating consequences.”

Number-plates were recorded for all four vehicles and the drivers were reported to British Transport Police. PC Phil James of British Transport Police said:  “We understand that waiting at a crossing can be frustrating, but second guessing when a train is due through simply isn’t worth the risk.

“Education is key to everything we do around level crossing, which is why we continue to work closely with Network Rail in the area to improve people’s knowledge. Our main concern is for the safety of those who use level crossings every day. We are more interested in preventing accidents and saving lives than enforcement.

“However, drivers who willingly flout the law and place themselves and others in danger should be in no doubt that when caught doing so, they will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. Taking a chance at a crossing can have dire consequences. Stop, think and be sensible, because one moment of impatience could result in lives being destroyed.”

In the last year (April 2015-March 2016) in Wales, Whitland level crossing recorded the second highest level of deliberate misuse of a level crossing, with only St Fagans recording a higher figure with 13 incidents during the same period.

Network Rail is investing £100m into its programme to make level crossing safer as part of its £40bn Railway Upgrade Plan to provide a bigger, better, more reliable railway for passengers and businesses.

Ends

Notes to editors:

Network Rail is investing £100m into its programme to improve level crossing safety as part of its £40bn Railway Upgrade Plan. Since 2010 it has:

• Employed more than 100 dedicated level crossing managers
• Closed over 990 level crossings
• Replaced footpath crossings with footbridges
• Installed 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 in partnership with BTP
• Invested in new technology such as the obstacle detection radar
• Introduced power operated gate openers
• Installed spoken warnings to announce if another train is coming after one train has passed through