More level crossing lunacy

[whole diary]

[willc]

New Network Rail video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F0Y3Cp7owIQ&feature=channel_video_title

[Electric train]

Network Rail now have an ANPR van with the NR^» (Network Rail - home page) logo, "Traffic Safety Partnership" with Police on it.
It parks up near a level crossing the van takes a 20 second video of offending vehicles along with the registered keepers detail and the NIP Notice of Intention to Prosecute is in the post

[anthony215]

One of those crossings is at Llanelli and i have seen how bad some people are there.

Pencoed has another level crossing which is monitored by CCTV^▸ (Closed Circuit Tele Vision) where i have seen people climbing the barries

I am glad to see Network Rail taking some action against some of these stupid people, those car drivers should be made to take a re-test as this in my opinion is dangerous driving.

[Chris from Nailsea]

I make no apologies for resurrecting this rather old topic, simply because I believe passionately that misuse of level crossings must be discouraged in every way possible.

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

Sion Ramson banned for Pencoed level crossing incident

A driver who sped across a south Wales level crossing as the barriers closed has been banned from driving.

Sion Ramson, 26, crossed the unmanned line in Pencoed to visit his sick grandmother, Cardiff Crown Court heard.

Ramson was caught on CCTV^▸ (Closed Circuit Tele Vision) ignoring flashing red lights and then driving over the crossing just before a train.

Ramson from Pontyclun admitted dangerous driving and was given a four-month suspended jail sentence and banned from driving for 12 months.

Judge Stephen Hopkins QC told him: "It was the most incredibly daft thing for you to have done. What you did was a particularly stupid and potentially dangerous thing. You put at risk both your own life and the lives of those on the train."

Ramson crossed the line on 1 February as a First Great Western passenger service was due on the main Swansea to London high-speed line.

He was arrested at home after the his vehicle had been filmed by the security cameras. He told officers: "I know I should not have crossed the way I did. I'm really sorry for this, I could have caused a serious accident."

Speaking after the case, a spokesman for Network Rail said: "This kind of behaviour can cause serious injury or death to yourself or rail users."


Ramson ignored the closing barrier


Ramson missed the incoming train on the Swansea to Paddington main line

[bobm]

I agree CfN - I struggle to comprehend why people do it.

On a recent trip back from Devon I was on an HST^▸ (High Speed Train) lead by the power car named after driver Stan Martin who died in the Ufton Nervet crash.  As we approached the crossing the driver gave three long blasts on the horn.  I was told this wasn't due to anyone on the line, but in memory of his fallen colleague.  A nice touch.

[Puffing Billy]

I completely agree with the sentiments in the previous post, but would just venture a slight note of caution in relating this (which I am sure was not intended) to the main target of this thread. While it in no way lessens the tragedy that took place on that occasion, and still needs consideration as to how such a disaster can be avoided, it should be taken into account that the cause of the Ufton Nervet accident was a suicidal person who was not in his right mind, which is not quite the same as the actions of those who risk such disasters purely out of their recklessness and selfishness.

[Chris from Nailsea]

Thanks, Puffing Billy. 

As you say, there was no intention to relate that specific tragic incident at Ufton Nervet to the wider issue in this topic. 

I agree that our ongoing concern here is that the presence of any road motor vehicle on any railway level crossing at any inappropriate time is something to be avoided, by any means possible.

The consequences of any train hitting any road vehicle in such situations can be quite horrible. 

[trainer]

Returning to Chris's posting of the newspaper report of the court case, it's good to see the courts taking the issue of ignoring the red flashing lights seriously.  A driving ban is severe and appropriate and a suspended jail sentence is a good deterrent for temptation to break it.  I hope this gets as much publicity as possible.

[SandTEngineer]

Hmmm.  Although I am always annoyed by the lunacy of these people I think a few facts should be put in place here.

The Judge and the NR^» (Network Rail - home page) spokesperson are both being 'economical' with the truth.  A train would not have approached the crossing as it is a 'manned' CCTV^▸ (Closed Circuit Tele Vision) level crossing where the barriers are controlled by a signaller and the signals cannot be cleared until the signaller has taken a deliberate action (i.e. pressed the crossing clear control).

Passing a flashing red light is of course illegal (even for emergency vehicles) so he has been rightly banned and fined.