SOUTH WALES LEVEL CROSSING USERS URGED "DON'T RUN THE RISK"

Thursday 19 Jul 2007

SOUTH WALES LEVEL CROSSING USERS URGED "DON'T RUN THE RISK"

Region & Route:: | Wales & Western: Wales & Borders; | Wales & Western

Users of level crossings in South Wales were reminded of the dangers of level crossing misuse on Friday 20 July. Network Rail joined forces with Arriva Trains Wales, the British Transport Police and the local MP at South Wales' most misused level crossing - Llanelli - as part of its Don’t run the risk campaign. The campaign is designed to highlight the severe risks drivers, cyclists and pedestrians take in ignoring red signals, barriers and klaxons at level crossings. Bryan Keetch, Network Rail's Area Operations Manager for Wales & Marches, said: “These awareness days represent a great opportunity to spread the Don’t run the risk message to people who use the level crossings in Llanelli and the surrounding area regularly. “Our message to drivers, pedestrians and cyclists is clear - level crossings are safe if used correctly, but misuse them and your chance of surviving being hit by a train is virtually zero.” Llanelli level crossing was chosen after 76 cases of crossing misuse were recorded since January. Nia Griffith, MP for Llanelli, said: "It really worries me that people are putting their own lives and other people's lives at risk by ignoring level crossing warnings. We must do everything we can in the community to raise awareness about the dangers of straying onto the tracks when the lights start flashing. I am appealing to all parents and grandparents, now at the start of the summer holidays, to remind their families that it is just not worth taking the risk." Chris Didio, Head of Safety for Arriva Trains Wales, said. “Arriva Trains Wales welcome Network Rail’s 'Don’t RunThe Risk' campaign. ATW applauds any initiative that raises awareness of level crossing misuse and its dangers.” Sergeant Mark Cleland, from the British Transport Police, said: “My main concern is for the safety of those who use level crossings everyday. I am more interested in preventing accidents and saving lives than enforcement and fines. "Most accidents are as a result of impatience; not being prepared to wait and trying to beat the train. For the sake of 60 seconds, a little patience can prevent lives being ruined. "I have seen what happens when a train hits a car or person and have had the sad duty of destroying people’s lives by informing them that their loved ones have died. I would urge anyone who thinks trying to beat the red light is OK, take a second to think of the consequences and stop. It might just save your life”. Level crossing misuse now represents the largest single risk of a train accident on the railway and the level crossing at Llanelli and the wider South Wales area suffer from frequent misuse.

Notes to editors

Statistics: • January 2007- to date, Network Rail recorded 116 instances of level crossing mis-use in South Wales. Of these incidents, 22 were near misses. Incidents range from vehicles zig zagging the barriers, young people playing chicken to users leaving gates open. • Please note that the numbers of crossing mis-use at Llanelli will be higher than other crossings in South Wales as the British Transport Police have been monitoring the crossing specifically for mis-use Network Rail’s Don’t run the risk campaign was launched in May 2006. Its aim is to change the behaviour of level crossing users – to protect themselves and reduce the danger to train passengers. The work on this campaign is running in parallel with other Network Rail and industry initiatives to minimise the safety risk at level crossings. These include: • Development of solutions which could lead to the replacement of some crossings • Development of obstacle detection systems • Development of lower cost level crossing 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 • Highlighting the issues of level crossings to key political stakeholders

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