The public are once again asked to use level crossings safely after a car hit the barriers at Cottingham in East Yorkshire earlier this week.
The incident at Cottingham North level crossing happened on Thursday 22nd October. The driver went through the red lights as the barrier was lowering, and damage was caused to the barrier.
As one line was blocked, train services suffered delays while the damaged barrier was removed, significant delays were caused to local road traffic.
Along the line between Cottingham and Beverley, trains travel at up to 70mph and so the incident could have had fatal consequences.
Network Rail has a webpage all about level crossings in their ‘Bossing the crossing' safety campaign
Richard Hayden, Level Crossing Manager, said: “This incident in Cottingham is shocking. The driver jumped the red lights to race through the barriers, causing significant damage to the level crossing, delays to train services and heavy traffic in the area – just to save a couple of minutes, instead of waiting until it was safe to cross.
“Sadly, too many people ignore the warnings, and misusing level crossings could have fatal or life-changing consequences.
“It is crucial that drivers are prepared to stop at level crossings, follow the rules and only continue to cross once it is safe to do so.”
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Perhaps there should be a year’s driving ban for idiots who ignore the rules at level crossings.
I just don’t get it why drivers and pedestrians fail to stop at a level crossing when the barriers are coming down and the lights are flashing red. As the train is coming. So many near misses, fatalities and misuse. We have got the most stupidest people in this country.
It’s because we got such mindless impatient drivers and they don’t know how to read the code of highway including when approaching a level crossing. And seeing the lights flashing red and the barriers coming down because a train is coming.
Same with pedestrians not looking, listening and hearing to the hazards when approaching a level crossing. As most level crossings do have footbridges or pedestrian underpass. In case of in busy areas that is always very busy with traffic and people.
So sorry to hear what had happened over at Cottingham, East Yorkshire…
I Most Definitely Apree… It’s very, very Dangerous to do such a thnig like that,
Level Crossings are ”Life-Saving”, Not ”Time-Wasting”.
Let’s Hope more and mroe lessons are eventually learnt from all this.