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Tuesday 3 Jun 2014

Yorkshire professional road users targeted in new level crossing safety programme

Region & Route:

- Tina Hughes, mother of Olivia, who was killed at Elsenham level crossing in 2005 will be available for interview at 11.00 at Knottingley level crossing (WF11 0JA)

Network Rail has launched a nationwide awareness programme targeting motorists who drive for a living, on the same day 45 countries join forces to raise awareness of safety at level crossings.

This includes events at south Yorkshire level crossings next Tuesday, 3 June.

Aimed at reducing the number of incidents at level crossings involving these “professional drivers” the programme will educate them on the safe use of level crossings.

Level crossings in Britain are among the safest in Europe but almost a fifth of the 142 near-misses that occurred at level crossings in 2013 included a vehicle driven in a professional capacity – such as a lorry, van, bus or taxi - putting the life of the driver as well as others at risk.

The “most important stop of the day” programme involves Network Rail’s 100 level crossing managers, who are based all over the nation, engaging with local employers whose workforce includes a significant number of drivers.

The programme launch coincides with ILCAD – International Level Crossing Awareness Day – a global initiative supported by 45 countries to raise public awareness on the safety factors and dangers posed by misuse at level crossings. This year, ILCAD is held on Tuesday, 3 June and is also targeting professional drivers.

To mark ILCAD, there are events taking place in Yorkshire on 3 June, including an awareness day at England Lane level crossing in Knottingley (postcode: WF11 0JA). Different rail partners including train companies and the British Transport Police (BTP) will be at the event.

At 1100 they will be joined for an hour by the mother of a young girl killed on a level crossing. Tina Hughes is a level crossing safety champion after her daughter Olivia and her friend Charlie, on their way to Christmas shopping, were killed at Elsenham level crossing in 2005.

Tina said: “I am very concerned whenever I hear about people misuing level crossings. I was never able to see or hold my daughter to say goodbye and that has been very difficult for me. I don't want anyone else to experience anything so awful.

“I hope that users will think about how devastating it would be for their families and friends if they were killed and realise that a short wait to cross the tracks is just not worth risking their life over.”

Other awareness events are taking place in the Doncaster area between 7:30am and 12:30pm at:

• Bentley, Doncaster (DN5 0BG)
• Dock Hills and Moat Hills, Doncaster (DN5 9SP)

Liz Reedy, community safety manager at Network Rail, said: “The plan is to go to our most heavily used crossings with staff and volunteers who will speak with motorists and pedestrians about of the importance of level crossing safety.

“The crossings we have chosen are used a lot by heavy haulage vehicles, and are close to large businesses and industrial units, so we plan to visit as many of these businesses on the day to help get the message out.”

At each of the events, there will be giveaways and a host of experts to speak about safety at level crossings.

This year, there has already been successful prosecution drivers for careless or dangerous driving at level crossings. For example, in Bugle, Cornwall a delivery van driver was prosecuted, resulting in a fine as well as incurring costs and penalty points on his licence. The driver was also suspended from his job pending the outcome of an internal investigation. In Rossington, Doncaster, a driver found guilty of dangerous driving lost his licence for 12 months and will need to take an extended test in order to get his licence back. The message is clear: for a professional driver, a prosecution for the misuse of a level crossing could have a devastating effect on his/her career.