Media centre

Monday 9 Feb 2009

TOUGH SENTENCES NEEDED AS LEVEL CROSSING LAW BREAKING REACHES FIVE YEAR HIGH (ANGLIA)

Region & Route:

Eastern: Anglia

| Eastern

The number of people breaking the law at level crossings is at a five year high, Network Rail revealed today. In the Anglia region there were nearly 500 incidents of level crossing misuse in 2008. Shockingly, one in five led to a potentially fatal near miss with a passing train.

Running risks at level crossings should come with tough consequences, and Network Rail is calling on judges and magistrates in the east of England to stamp down hard on motorists jumping lights and dodging barriers, to act as a clear deterrent.

Last year, over 55 days of delays to trains and passengers were caused by level crossing misuse, costing Network Rail around £1.8million – money that can’t be invested into the railway. The real cost to the industry far exceeds this, as it does not include actual damage to trains or tracks or staffing time and cost.

Network Rail chief executive Iain Coucher said: “The toughest consequence of breaking the law at a level crossing is to lose your life – thankfully that doesn’t happen very often. Every week we see people who ignore warning signs and lights or drive round barriers at level crossings just to save a few minutes. This behaviour has the potential for massive damage, disruption and death. We think that the judiciary penalties received need to reflect the seriousness of these crimes and are calling on the judiciary to consider all these factors when handing down sentences.”

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. Of the 500 incidents reported in the region last year, almost a quarter of these occurred at just ten level crossings.

Network Rail welcomes the changes to the Coroners and Justice Bill, currently going through Parliament, in particular the proposal to establish a new Sentencing Council for England and Wales, with strengthened remit to promote consistency in sentencing practice. It also welcomes the amendment to the Road Traffic offenders Act (1988) to extend the length of the period of a driving disqualification where a custodial sentence is also imposed. Network Rail will be looking to work with Government, parliamentarians and interested parties to see how this important piece of legislation can support tougher action on level crossing offences.

Last year, there were more than 3400 incidents of misuse at level crossings nationwide. On average, more than three motorists a week were involved in a near miss, where a train narrowly avoided missing them because they ignored warning signs and lights or weaved round barriers. There were 20 collisions between trains and motor vehicles for those that didn’t beat the lights.

Pedestrians were also putting themselves at risk with more than five a week involved in near misses. If a train hits a person at high speed, there is almost always only one tragic outcome. Sadly, 15 people lost their lives at level crossings in 2008.

Network Rail’s hard hitting TV and radio advertising campaign, which launched in November 2008, is again running across Britain this month. It illustrates in graphic detail the tragic consequences of misusing level crossings by both motorists and pedestrians.

Mr Coucher added: “We hope that increased awareness of the dangers of taking risks at level crossings, coupled with tough sentences for those caught breaking the law, will act as a deterrent and help bring down the number of offences and ultimately save lives.”