Too many road users are breaking the law at a level crossing
We’re calling on the government do more to enforce motorists to drive safely at level crossings – on average three drivers a week continue to dice with death.
We want the driving theory test to include compulsory questions on level crossings to enforce learner drivers’ understanding of the Highway Code, and stamp out dangerous driving behaviour such as dodging around barriers and running red lights as trains approach. Published figures reveal that around three drivers a week narrowly avoid a potentially fatal collision with a train after breaking the law at level crossings.
In total, there were over 3,200 recorded incidents of misuse at level crossings last year, 14 motor vehicle collisions with trains, and 13 deaths as drivers continue to dice with death.
A collision between a train and a motor vehicle on a level crossing is the single biggest risk of a catastrophic incident on the railway, but thousands of pedestrians also use level crossings every day. We know that many pedestrians misuse level crossings every day too, ignoring the warning signs and lights, so we would urge everyone to obey the warning signs and lights and use crossings safely and correctly.