Friday, 23 October 2009

Level crossings - a request for consistency

Network Rail has been busy reminding drivers and pedestrians of the dangers of level crossing abuse.

Such as this story from the BBC...

Network Rail has released footage of pedestrians risking their lives at a level crossing in Dorset, including a mother pushing her baby in a pram.

A video shows the woman running across the track with her child moments before a train passed.

Iain Coucher, Network Rail chief executive, said: "The rules around level crossings are clear and simple.

"When the lights flash or the barriers are down, don't cross - a train is approaching."

However, this particular footpath crossing is not gated and the miniature warning lights, of either hue, are steady and do not flash.

Which means that here the 'clear and simple' rules don't actually apply.

And if they don't apply then the rules are not consistent.

Inconsistent safety messages and procedures actually import risk rather than reduce it.

Yet one more reason to undertake a thorough review of the methods by which level crossing users are alerted to on-coming rail traffic.

UPDATE: This from @swlines via Twitter

Although the crossing in question does have a siren that goes off before it goes red.

And that CCTV vid is from signal box.