To think level crossings need to be banned

[Friendofmine8]

Or at least all monitored by CCtv at all times? I just feel they cause awful risk to both people on food and in cars.

Many are or have been closed if the risk is significant. It’s very time consuming and costly to close a level crossing. Despite the safety angle, there’s often a high degree of public/customer objection and the diversions can take people miles out of their way. The rail industry really do their best with this issue, but it’s hard to risk assess against people who wilfully ignore the barriers and lights. Many have CCTV as well, and misuse is a prosecutable offence.

I think if we just banned idiots a lot of things in life would be better.

Just ignore the emotional impact on the train driver and risk of injury to the train passengers.

exactly! We had fewer accidents back then when ours didn’t. People were naturally more cautious. Now it’s “the guard didn’t warn me” or “the lights don’t give you enough time”. All CCTV has done is give idiots someone else to blame for their impatience.

Most of the level crossings near me have red light cameras on them so if you jump the lights you would receive a penalty. Near me, most incidents involving level crossings are not idiots, it’s people deliberately choosing to end their life. This is obviously horrible for the train driver who experiences it (and emergency services and any passengers that witness it) but in short, banning level crossings wouldn’t solve the issue. They would find other ways.

There are 2 near my parents. There has never been an accident on either during my lifetime.

‘Banned’?!

What do you propose instead? A complete rerouting of every railway line in Britain?

Shall we ban crossroads as well, in case a car tries to drive across without looking? Shall we also ban pedestrians from crossing roads, and confine their crossing points to underpasses and bridges only?

My hometown has a level crossing. Number of pedestrians injured on it in my 48-year lifetime: 0. Number of motorists injured on it in my lifetime: 1, a lorry driver whose cab got clipped by the descending barrier when he thought he could make it across while the warning light was flashing.

Cake 😬

Foot

What would cameras even do? You'd have to have superman monitoring them to be able to intervene fast enough if someone decides to jump the barrier.

Perfectly rational fear

I think part of the issue is they make it easier for people who want to end their lives.

First post nails it…

Food?
Are people riding baguettes instead of broomsticks now?
If so, yes they are dangerous especially in the rain. Imagine the baguettes dissolving in the middle of a level crossing...

Let's ban life, so that everybody lives. Oh, hang on - just realised that they tried that in 2020. Level crossings are safe if people follow basic instructions.

I don't think that's particularly true.

I do

Absolutely agree. Dangerous things.

while we are at it let’s also ban anything sharp. So many people accidentally injure themselves on sharp things every day that could so easily be avoided.

It’s a dumb way to die. A very dumb way to die.

In 2 decades of driving, never have struggled to understand the logistics of a level crossing. You literally cross when it’s safe to do so, and do not cross when there’s a train coming. It really is that simple.

Play stupid games, win stupid prizes.

I feel for the train driver if they hit someone, but that’s it.

Totally agree with this.

This banning everything mindset infantilises people and contributes to lack of responsibility for own actions.

There are lots of dangerous road junctions / road crossings that are far more dangerous. As PPs said, most level crossing risk arises from stupid people, and it's hard to legislate for that.

@sanityisamyth @Shade17

Your comments are disgusting.

Two teenage girls were killed instantly on a level crossing where my mum lives. Their families lives have been ruined for ever.

The rail company was fined over £1m for negligence.

I don't believe level crossings should be phased out, but I do believe they should be 100% up to date, operationally correct and regularly assessed to guard against malfunction, and to protect young and vulnerable people, none of whom are 'idiots' who should 'take themselves out of the gene pool'.

We have a railway line that runs through the village. There are several foot crossing points in the woods and one at the end of the station platform. Most of the stations on this line have foot crossings rather than bridges.

The only fatality we have had in the entire time I have lived here was when someone decided to take their own life.