Spy cameras used to catch drivers flouting level crossing warnings
SPY cameras are being used to catch motorists who are putting lives at risk by driving over level crossings without first checking for trains.
British Transport Police (BTP) says reckless motorists are racing across the remote level crossing at Mill Lane, Barthomley, unaware if trains are approaching the area.
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Mill Lane level crossing
The user-operated crossing with gates means drivers are expected to use a telephone line to contact the signalman to ask if any trains are near.
Once they have been given the all-clear, drivers are then expected to open the gates, cross the railway line, which runs between Crewe, Alsager and Stoke stations, then close the gates.
But BTP officers say drivers are not stopping to find out if trains are close by and are instead opening the gates and crossing the railway lines, and then not closing them behind them.
BTP officers have been out to the site to put extra safety measures in place, including CCTV cameras, and to attempt to educate drivers on the hazards of level crossings.
In future, drivers who continue to flout the safety measures, could be hit with a fixed penalty fine, or court proceedings.
Inspector Sonja Simister said: “For some reason, drivers seem only too happy to take risks at the crossing to shave a few seconds off their journey times.
“But no amount of time saved is worth putting lives at risk.
“Both BTP and Network Rail have been working around the clock to educate people about the danger of misusing level crossings, but this seems to have fallen on deaf ears.
“CCTV has been installed at Barthomley and we will use all possible means to prosecute motorists who continue to ignore the restrictions.”
Jo Kaye, Network Rail’s route managing director added: “As well as the obvious danger, there is the added issue of the delay caused to train services by leaving the gates open.
“Every time someone does that, we have to impose a speed restriction on trains in the area until we can get one of our people out to close the gates.
“It makes the trains late, people could be late for work, miss appointments or train connections, all because of the selfish actions of a few individuals.”
Former railway worker Chris Thorley, of Middlewich Street, Crewe, said: “I witnessed a serious accident there in the 1990s where a train was pushing a car along.
“There should be automated barriers there. I know it’s not cheap, but neither is a life.”
10 Comments
by stevenweiss
Sunday, November 20 2011, 10:28PM
“It seems as though the Sentinel must get its facts straight before reporting”
by Goach
Sunday, November 20 2011, 9:30PM
“Barriers should be installed as it should be the railway's responsibility to ensure safety, the same way as it is a employers responsibility to ensure the safety of employees and the public. I believe that automatic barriers work by a switch being activated when a train reaches a certain point on the track, a few seconds after the lights are activated. That would be a common sense approach.”
by Backdoored
Friday, November 18 2011, 11:09PM
“@ soccer... And, just to remind you -in your concerns for the 'welfare of 'ourselves' (as you put it), -it is not so much to protect us from 'ourselves' -but to protect us from idiots.
You seem to forget that the trains have people on them -including the Driver. Derailments often occur on impact with vehicles on level crossings. 'They' are out to 'get you' -they are out to save us from the idiots who feel such a sense of freedom that they can't be bothered to think of others.”
by Backdoored
Friday, November 18 2011, 11:03PM
“Cameras in people's homes!! Erm... Come to think about it that could be a good idea. At least one child/toddler/baby dies each week at the hands of their parents........
Call it 'Welfare' ... call it 'Socialism' ... call it whatever you want -but if 'welfare' of the child, of a baby -means saving it from extreme violence, which results eventually to their pitiful deaths, then yes, GET THE CAMERAS IN. Pronto.”
by soccerfoot11
Friday, November 18 2011, 10:31PM
“Wow, so the government strikes again with more cameras to "look after the people's welfare". How long will it be before this socialist government wants to put cameras in everybody's house just in case the people are doing something that might be harmful to themselves !
When are the sheep going to stop following the ridiculous British governemnt and stand up for their own rights ???”
by gooddriver666
Friday, November 18 2011, 6:06PM
“As a user of this crossing, this story is quite misleading and inacurate. Whilst I dont deny there is a problem with people not closing the gates after them and the issues this can cause to all parties
What they don't tell you is that this particular crossing has a light system, green = safe to cross and red = train coming- DO NOT CROSS! not difficult and the sign actually says something along the lines of "if you are a slow moving vehicle use the phone to contact signalbox" not "use phone to gain permission to cross" as they are impling in this report. otherwise, why have the signalling system?”
by Huey_Hog
Friday, November 18 2011, 3:32PM
“I would have thought that installing a electronic lock on the barrier only operable from the signal box would have been a lot safer and cheaper than CCTV cameras. Drivers would have been forced to ask for the gate to be opened. With nowadays technology the bloke pushing the button could be miles away.”
by Backdoored
Friday, November 18 2011, 3:26PM
“And why do they have to be described as ''SPY CAMERAS'? Doesn't that infer that those responsible of Safety at these Level Crossing are 'up to no good?
Of course they are not. These Cameras will be installed to save the public from an early Grave. There's nothing 'sneaky' about that -is there?
The term 'spy camera' suggests that they will be hidden -playing a sort of 'cat and mouse' game. How ridiculous is that concept.
These cameras should not only be UP FRONT FOR ALL TO SEE, but there should be very large signs also -indicating their presence.
Take the 'confrontation element out of it -they are not 'spying' on us -they are a 'Evidence Collectors' -simply there to act as a deterrent to would be criminals. Because, make no bones about it -to leave a gate open on a Level Crossing -is nothing short of a 'criminal act'.”
by Backdoored
Friday, November 18 2011, 3:18PM
“If a motorist and passengers, maybe with children on board all died as a result of this gross irresponsibility, I reckon if they traced the culprit who'd left the gate open -would face a jail term.
So, why wait for a death/s -before deterring the would be 'danger merchants' -by jailing the first one to be caught on camera.
Better that someone spends some time locked up in Prison for a period of time, than someone loses a life -for eternity.
This needs to be addressed with the up most urgency. Those responsible for safety at these crossing are as guilty as the motorist who kill -if they don't treat it in that way. Twiddling their thumbs -and putting the publics' lives at risk. They should act now!! A frightening scenario.
Imagine a derailment? Doesn't bear thinking about.”
by johnboy2011
Friday, November 18 2011, 1:35PM
“Why don't they go back to when it was British Rail, and employ a crossing keeper.
This is the problem with private companies cut costs first safety second.”