British Transport Police and Network Rail joined forces at a number of nationwide level crossing awareness drives as part of International Level Crossing Awareness Day last week on Thursday 9 June.
113 people were detected and charged with level crossing misuse during operations the length and breadth of the country.
Chief Superintendent (Territorial Policing) Eamonn Carroll of British Transport Police said:
“Our officers and community safety staff from Network Rail handed out thousands of advisory leaflets at crossing across the country and, without exception drivers were extremely supportive of this initiative.
“These operations will carry on throughout year and we will continue to reinforce the message that crossings can be used safely.
“Sadly, there remains a hard core of drivers that think it is clever to risk not only their own life, but those of others, to save a few seconds. Be assured that anyone detected misusing a crossing anywhere in the country will face prosecution.”
International Level Crossing Awareness Day also saw Network Rail launch an innovative sat nav application aimed at improving driver’s awareness of level crossings and encourage safer driving.
The free download, developed in conjunction with provider Garmin, alerts drivers with a train whistle when they are approaching a crossing.
Network rail director of operational services, Dyan Crowther, said: “Motorists that jump the lights or smash into barriers as they try and beat them coming down can cause great disruption and cost to the network, so we’re always looking at new ways to reduce the risk of incidents at level crossings.”
Network Rail also revealed that the first of its purpose-built camera vans, resourced by British Transport Police officers, and utilising state-of-the-art equipment, has prosecuted 1,131 people in the first three-months of operation in the south of England.
Initial research has shown most incidents of dangerous driving and disruptive activity at level crossings are committed by female motorists aged between 50 and 65 years – accounting for over a quarter of recorded offences.
British Transport Police officers have detected drivers committing a variety of offences – including jumping the lights and driving through crossings as barriers come down to striking barriers, careless and dangerous driving and yellow box obstructions.
Dyan Crowther continued: “The camera vehicle has proved what we always believed, that far too many people are misusing level crossings. Although the initial trend shows that older people are responsible for the highest number of offences, all ages misuse crossings.
“Our aim is to deter them rather than prosecute. We hope those caught will change their behaviour and along with our other activities we’ll see a reduced impact on passenger services and the cost of these crimes on the running of the railway.”
Men aged 50-65 account for the second highest number of offences (19%), which means that this age group alone is responsible for 47% of the misuse caught on camera. By contrast, males aged between 17-25 – often regarded as the highest risk motoring group – accounted for 8% of offences.
Chief Superintendent Carroll concluded: “This innovative sat nav technology will be a useful additional tool in helping reduce level crossing misuse across the country.
“Our officers remain committed to not only detecting offenders but working closely with Network Rail to reinforce the safety message and continue our educational approach, in order to change driver behaviour.
“The roll-out of the camera equipped level crossing vans also provides an ideal opportunity to affect driver behaviour and attitude when approaching level crossings.”
