Train hits car on level crossing in Berkshire - BBC News (06/03/2010)

[whole diary]

[Chris from Nailsea]

Erm ... it was the BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page) who originally referred to 'the two level crossings in the town' ... 

[IndustryInsider]

I stand corrected - I didnt realise there was a third - since someone on this thread referred to the two crossings in the town.

And I knew of the station and the easthamsptead road one!

No problem.  To be honest, it's a concern that there are three such crossings in such a short space of track - especially with the one by the station splitting four ways immediately either side of the barriers and involving a mini-roundabout one side, too.

[Ollie]

Attached are aerial images of the 4 crossings that Wokingham has (3  are Level Crossings):

1. Is Wokingham Station
2. Is a foot crossing between allotments (which I ask why the North Downs Line gets a footbridge, and the Waterloo Line doesn't..
3. Is Easthampstead Road
4. Is Waterloo Road where yesterdays incident occurred.

[Chris from Nailsea]

Thank you, Ollie: you are a star! 

[devon_metro]

From the Highway Code:

Level crossings
291
A level crossing is where a road crosses a railway or tramway line. Approach and cross it with care. Never drive onto a crossing until the road is clear on the other side and do not get too close to the car in front. Never stop or park on, or near, a crossing.

Was going to say, what sort of halfwit drives onto a level crossing, it's the same as a box junction only actually dangerous rather than just a nuisance!

[Mookiemoo]

You'll be surprised at just how many do it on the Easthamstead road one!

[Ollie]

Happens all too often, the one at Wokingham Station is particularly bad, due to the mini roundabout, so a vehicle will cross the level crossing, and be waiting to get out across the roundabout, if you have a small car its fine, but anything too big and you are more or less under where the barrier comes down.

[Chris from Nailsea]

Was going to say, what sort of halfwit drives onto a level crossing, it's the same as a box junction only actually dangerous rather than just a nuisance!

Well said, devon_metro - I'm pleased to see that some common sense still applies! 

You'll be surprised at just how many do it on the Easthamstead road one!

No ... I'm appalled at how many do it ... 

Ollie has summed it up admirably: there is clearly a case for reviewing the viability of such level crossings, if road users can't be trusted to use their common sense.   

[Mookiemoo]

Was going to say, what sort of halfwit drives onto a level crossing, it's the same as a box junction only actually dangerous rather than just a nuisance!

Well said, devon_metro - I'm pleased to see that some common sense still applies! 

You'll be surprised at just how many do it on the Easthamstead road one!

No ... I'm appalled at how many do it ... 

Ollie has summed it up admirably: there is clearly a case for reviewing the viability of such level crossings, if road users can't be trusted to use their common sense.   

Hope they take themselves out with a darwin award!

[Chris from Nailsea]

From the BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page):

Wokingham level crossing death 'not suspicious'

The death of driver killed when his car was hit by a train on a level crossing in Berkshire, is not being treated as suspicious by police.
None of the 150 passengers or the train driver were injured in the crash at the crossing in Waterloo Road, Wokingham, on Saturday morning.
British Transport Police believe the dead man was 58 and from Bracknell.
A spokesman said there was significant disruption between Ascot and Reading as a result of the incident.
He added that about 120 passengers were transferred from the eight-carriage train to coaches.

[Chris from Nailsea]

From the BTP^▸ (British Transport Police) press release:

WOKINGHAM LEVEL CROSSING DEATH ^ MAN NAMED

Following the death at Waterloo Road level crossing, Wokingham on Saturday 6 March, the deceased has been identified as David Francis Brown, aged 58 from Nine Mile Ride, Wokingham.
Mr Brown was a local car dealer and the loving husband of Marilyn.  He died when his car was struck by a train shortly before 11am on 6 March.  A file is being prepared for the coroner.

[eightf48544]

In this sad case it is interesting to note that it was local who was killed.

This seems to be case in most Level Crossing accidents. Is it a case of familiarity breeds comtempt?

As there no are level crossing on routes I most often drive  I tend to treat all level crossings with care and approach them slowly. This  may also be because I'm hoping to be stopped. In fact I wish there was one in Bourne End as this would mean from there to Wycombe would have been reopened.

Maybe after each such accident Network rail should do a leaflet drop around the neighbourhood givng advice as to how to use the crossing etc.

[Chris from Nailsea]

Network Rail is indeed concerned at the situation - from the BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page):

Drivers 'should have mandatory level crossing tests'

The driving test should have compulsory questions on level crossings to cut the number of drivers who take risks on them each year, Network Rail has said.
It said there were 14 crashes and 13 deaths last year and 140 near misses between vehicles and trains.
The rail operator recorded 3,200 incidents of misuse, but said the actual figure was likely to be higher.
Network Rail said motorists were "too often playing Russian roulette with a 200-tonne train" - and losing.
Network Rail chief executive Iain Coucher said test questions would help drivers start out with good habits on negotiating level crossings, rather than running red lights or dodging around barriers.
"I'm confident that lives will be saved if motorists learn how to safely use level crossings from the day they pass their test," he said.
Andrew Howard, AA head of road safety, said a train hitting a vehicle on a level crossing was "the single biggest risk of a catastrophic incident on the railway".
He added: "Level crossings are one of the few places where one motorist's irresponsibility can affect the safety of many, many people. Motorists must be aware of the rules, which are simple, logical and well signed. The risk in trying to save two minutes jumping a level crossing just isn't worth it."
British Transport Police Deputy Chief Constable Paul Crowther welcomed the move, saying level crossing incidents were "wholly avoidable" and changing driver behaviour was the "only sustainable solution".
He also suggested placing fixed cameras at "hot-spot" level crossings to help reduce disruption and the risk to life.
Responding to the calls for mandatory testing on level crossings, a Department for Transport spokesman said: "Theory test questions are selected at random, with no single topic guaranteed, because we want candidates to know all the rules of the road rather than just specific areas they know will be covered in the test. However, after close consultation with the rail industry, we have recently incorporated more questions into the theory test on level crossing safety and we have expanded the information on level crossings in the Highway Code. In addition, our children's road safety campaign, Tales of the Road, includes guidance on how pedestrians can use level crossings safely."
Examples of misuse include rushing across after the warning sequence has already begun, ignoring the flashing lights and klaxon - rather like running a red traffic light - to jumping over or manoeuvring around the barrier after it has already been lowered.
According to a Network Rail spokeswoman, people think: "'I need to get home, I can beat that train'. Sometimes they do, sometimes they don't."
The 2009 figures show a slight decrease in accidents from the previous year.
There were 3,242 recorded incidents of misuse or error, down from 3,479 in 2008; there were 14 collisions between vehicles and trains, down from 20 in 2008; and 13 deaths, reduced from 15 in 2008.
The spokeswoman said the recorded incidents were those recorded by CCTV^▸ (Closed Circuit Tele Vision), by train drivers or by rail workers, but added the actual number was likely to be higher.
The call for compulsory testing for learner drivers is the latest element of a four-year public awareness campaign that includes TV and radio advertising.

[Tim]

This seems to be case in most Level Crossing accidents. Is it a case of familiarity breeds contempt?

I think you are right.  Although there is also a separate category of "drivers" who are unfamiliar with LC^▸ (Level Crossing) and therefore don't know how to use them.

Perhaps the Driving Standards agency could fund some rail reopenings so that there are level crossings within a short distance of all driving test centres (mind you, LC are not normally allowed on reopened line) 

[JayMac]

Drivers caught commiting traffic offences at level crossings need to face stiffer penalties in court as well.

Automatic driving bans is what I'd like see.