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Friday 6 Oct 2017

VIDEO: Warning to road users after CCTV spots cyclist getting stuck behind level crossing gates in West Sussex

Region & Route:

| Southern

Network Rail is reminding road users to pay attention to red lights at level crossings after a mobile CCTV van spotted a cyclist getting caught behind the barriers in West Sussex.

Roundstone level crossing, near Angmering, has four full barriers, controlled remotely by a signaller. Some level crossings on more minor roads, with two barriers instead of four, are automatic and are not monitored.

On Monday morning a joint Network Rail/British Transport Police mobile CCTV van, which was in the area watching for motorists jumping the lights, spotted a woman cyclist ducking under the lowering barrier and getting stuck on the railway.

Network Rail level crossing manager Clive Robey said: “The woman was in no danger from trains, as the signaller was able to raise the barriers so she could get out, but it did mean that the train and the motorists had to wait longer. Had she tried the same thing at an automatic crossing, such as at Yapton, she would have been in great danger of being hit by a train.

“As it was, she narrowly missed getting hit by the barrier as it came down – something that has caused injury to cyclists in the past.

“Level crossing lights and barriers are there to keep everyone safe and I would appeal to users, at Roundstone and elsewhere, to pay attention to them. People do have to wait a few minutes, but today’s incident shows why there is a gap between the barriers coming down and the train crossing over.”

Mr Robey visited the crossing later in the week and explained the dangers to the cyclist, who is a regular user of the road.

Roundstone crossing is located at the junction of the B2140 Worthing Road and North Lane, just off the A259 near Angmering.

Recent incidents at the busy crossing include a driver swerving round stationary cars as the barriers came down, which happened on September 15 this year, and a pedestrian jumping over the barriers on August 28.

For more on Network Rail and level crossings, go to www.networkrail.co.uk/running-the-railway/looking-after-the-railway/level-crossings/