pray tell me why???

[TheLadyEvenstar]

Why??

As sad as this is why would you encourage your child to play on a train track?

I don't think she did. it sounds like they were nearby and he started to run across, she called him which made him stop and turn round

She wasn't encouraging him to play on the tracks; he ran away from her and she chased after him but he carried on running thinking it was a game. Absolute tragedy - every parent's worst nightmare.

just imagine, if she hadn't called him he may have just run right across. he only stopped to listen to her.
god, it's heartbreaking isn't it?

it is heartbreaking, one report said they had been playing near the level crossing another said he thought they were playing.

This is why I always have DS2 in his buggy or with a wrist strap on if we are near roads or train tracks.

Well im sure thats reassuring to the mother who watched her son die

It was obv a mistake, a bad one but it was not deliberate or neglect, there had previously been bolts on the gate, maybe they thought he wouldnt be able to get through..

I'm sorry but you sound pretty smug

i am far from smug, it is a dreadful accident which sadly could have been avoided.

How awful.

Surely they could have latches on crossing gates which are difficult (for a child, at least) to open to get onto the track but easy to open to get off it?

apparently there were latches but they got rid of them because they felt (rightly i think) that if people had to latch gates behind them then they'd be spending more time on the actual crossing, which is risky, obviously.

i think ALL crossings should have automatic barriers actually.
and of course all chuildren/dogs etc etc should be firmly held onto nearby...