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Thursday 25 Jun 2009

WOULD IT KILL YOU TO WAIT?

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National

- HARD HITTING LEVEL CROSSING SAFETY MESSAGE DRIVEN ACROSS EUROPE

Network Rail’s dedicated community safety team will today hold a series of ‘Don’t Run the Risk’ awareness events at Britain’s most misused level crossings in support of a European level crossing day of action. The team will be handing out leaflets that spell out the chilling truth that taking a chance at a level crossing might be the last thing you do, and pose the question: ‘would it kill you to wait?’

The awareness day, which aims to combat level crossing misuse and highlight the dangers of ignoring warning signs and barriers has been organised jointly by road and rail sector organisations and government agencies across Europe and will see activities take place across 23 countries.

Over 600 people die at level crossings across Europe each year. Last year, 15 people lost their lives in Britain with more than 3,400 incidents of misuse. On average, more than three motorists a week were involved in a near miss, where a train narrowly avoided hitting them after ignoring warning signs or weaving round barriers. There were 20 collisions between trains and motor vehicles for those that didn’t beat the lights.

Whilst even one fatality is too many, the latest European fatality statistics (2008)* reveal Germany, France, The Netherlands and Spain have all tragically seen higher levels than Britain.

European Country/Total number of persons killed by level-crossing accidents in 2008

Hungary 118
Germany 52
Czech Republic 43
Romania 42
Poland 40
France 38
Latvia 27
Austria 25
The Netherlands 18
Spain 17
Portugal 17
Slovakia 17
Great Britain 15


Network Rail's hard hitting level crossing safety campaign 'Don’t Run the Risk' is beginning to have an impact on people’s behaviour, according to research conducted for the company by Millward Brown.

An online survey this spring found:

• Before the recent advertising campaign (November-February) 55% said they understood what not to do at level crossings, post the campaign this rose to 67%.
• 54% of people said that the advert had already influenced their behaviour at level crossings.
• 67% said that it would influence their behaviour at level crossings in the future.

Martin Gallagher, head of community safety at Network Rail said: "Level crossings are safe if used correctly, but time and time again we see people risking their lives by jumping the gates, swerving around barriers and ignoring warning signs. We’re out today where misuse is at its worst to try and hit home the message that running the risk at a level crossing is just not worth it. We're asking 'would it kill you to wait?'. We know sadly all too well, that for those that don’t, there can be tragic consequences."

On the campaign research results, Mark Shaoul, head of marketing for Network Rail commented: "The impact we’ve had in driving recognition of the safety campaign with the recent bursts of activity has been phenomenal. We know that translating what people say they will do into real action will be the litmus test, but these results show us we are on the right track for helping to deliver. This, along with many other activities that the business is working on, will help to reduce level crossing incidents and needless injuries and deaths."

Chief Superintendent David Wildbore of British Transport Police gave his support for the campaign: "People must realise that they not only risk there own lives but also the lives of many others if crossings are not used correctly. The statistics for accidents at level crossings make chilling reading and almost all incidents are caused by motorist or pedestrian misuse. British Transport Police will be out in force across the country supporting Network Rail to raise awareness of the dangers of crossing misuse. We will have no hesitation in prosecuting any offenders who are selfish enough to risk the lives of other people by failing to comply with the laws relating to the use of crossings."