Motorists are being reminded to remain alert, comply with road signage and never stop on level crossings after repeated scenes of queuing traffic on the railway in Derbyshire.
Road vehicles have been seen idling on the track in recent weeks at Willington automatic level crossing, south-west of Derby.
The issue led to Network Rail installing temporary electronic signage nearby to warn motorists but, despite this, some drivers continue to ignore the warnings. Network Rail staff have observed road users stopping their vehicles on the crossing on numerous occasions – some of which have required emergency action to be taken.
The level crossing was the scene of a serious collision involving a car and a train on 28 November – an incident which is being investigated by British Transport Police. There was also an incident of a barrier striking a road vehicle on 1 December, disrupting rail services in the area.
Dan Matthews, Network Rail operations director, said:
“Level crossings are there to keep everyone safe, but they can be extremely dangerous if used incorrectly. The trend we’ve seen recently at Willington, with drivers ignoring mandatory signage, is very worrying and could have tragic consequences.
“It’s imperative that motorists remain alert, comply with the signage and make sure the exit is clear before moving onto a crossing. It’s important to be patient and it’s never worth the risk just to move a few metres further forward.”
Inspector Robert Drysdale, British Transport Police, said:
“I urge drivers to take extra caution and care at the Willington level crossing. You might think you’re saving time, but you could be putting yourself, and others, in serious danger. Level crossings can be incredibly dangerous and if warning signs are ignored or missed, the consequences could potentially be catastrophic.
“We deal with numerous incidents each month at level crossings, and through patrols, CCTV enquiries and close collaboration with our Network Rail partners, we will always seek to prosecute serious offences to deter misuse.”
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