Railway crossings / Level Crossings

Railway crossings can be incredibly dangerous if not used properly. You should not need me to draw for you too much of a mental picture of what happens when a car is hit in the side by a train.

Railway, or Level crossings are not as common as they used to be. Railway crossings have been replaced where possible by local authorities as the resources become available to them. In many areas though they still exist

If you have a railway crossing / level crossing in your area then I advise that you be very careful. Follow the rules for railway crossings and you will be fine. Ignore them at your peril.

As you approach a level crossing you will be able to see it plainly. They are more than obvious with the barriers sticking up into the air and the lights on the boards on either side of the road. If the crossing is obscured by a bend or building as does happen in some places do remember that there will be countdown markers similar to those approaching the exits of major roads and motorways. The main difference being that the markings will be red on a white background. The lower central light will come on first and stay on until the upper lights come on a few seconds later. The upper lights flash in turn. At some crossings there is an audible alarm as well.

We have to follow two simple rules to use railway / level crossings safely.

1. If you are approaching a crossing and the traffic in front is stationary the other side of the crossing do not begin to cross the crossing until you can cross it completely. This sounds blatantly obvious but I have seen cars stopped across the tracks in more than one city. It is not until the unobservant people stop that they realise their danger.



2. If you are approaching and you can hear or see any alarm at all, stop before the barriers and wait for them to come down. It is not worth getting trapped between the barriers and having to ring the signalman and explain yourself (if there is time) or having the barrier come down on the roof of your car.

Every year there are many accidents at railway level crossings. Please make sure that this does not happen to you. The trend is downwards and we all want to keep it that way.

In the past I have seen people race the barrier and get caught between the gates. I have never seen anyone in a car so scared. Jumping out and looking around for the emergency telephone to the signalman so that he can raise the gates. All through their own stupidity.

Be safe out there!