I drove through a level crossing

[zwk500]

I wonder if footage from ordinary CCTV can be used to prosecute those going through on red, obviously there's no automatic capture but should the driver be hit by a train I would imagine so?

AIUI a lot of Level Crossing CCTV is either not in colour or doesn't cover the flashing reds at the same time, so even if you did retrieve the footage it would be difficult to prove the offence.

 

[CyrusWuff]

As for the OP I've never known a camera flash as you pass on yellow for the reasons outlined above, and my undertanding is if it changes from yellow to red as you cross then that wouldn't flash either (ie a long HGV travelling slowly). So for a level crossing, in that instance, I hope there is considerable time before changing to red and the train crossing!

Given the crossing in the OP has full barriers, the signals protecting it shouldn't display a proceed aspect until the signaller has confirmed the crossing is clear.

 

[Elecman]

Don't know how common they are, but they're very cheap to install these days..

Beaver Hill crossing, between Lamphey and Manorbier, is a crossing where the driver stops (yes, stops) and blows his horn, and then proceeds at ~5-10mph - there are no lights or other electrically supplied devices. From the second photo, you'll see it looks like a consumer-grade home-security solar-powered, SIM-card fitted, camera. Wonder if they have a few SIMs to try to see which network actually has signals in rural areas!

View attachment 143367
View attachment 143368

You use roaming SIMS that will lock onto whichever GSM signal is strongest

 

[Ediswan]

You use roaming SIMS that will lock onto whichever GSM signal is strongest

An alternative is to use a network scanner to find the best option (or that there are none).

 

[Deepgreen]

Amber means STOP....if you can do so safely. if there was another car on your rear bumper you can argue that had you stopped you may have got "rear ended".

Then the car behind would have been at fault - driving too close to stop. Level crossings are very well signed and anyone using the road at them should be alert for lights and sudden stops. Bad driving habits are so rife these days that they are becoming the norm - anyone leaving a sensible distance between them and the vehicle ahead is deemed to be slack, not fast enough, etc.

 

[66701GBRF]

Then the car behind would have been at fault - driving too close to stop.

While that is true, who wants to risk a collision and go through the ballache of it all...or risk the other person not stopping or not being insured etc.

 

[Gerald Fiennes]

To me, the main point is that level crossings are an unforgiving environment. All road users need to exercise caution approaching and using them. No exceptions. I suppose the subsconscious thought now is that they are just 'bigger traffic lights', but (as well all know) trains are not like cars ....

 

[Steve B]

While that is true, who wants to risk a collision and go through the ballache of it all...or risk the other person not stopping or not being insured etc.

Indeed, and also run the risk of having the car damaged so as to be undriveable and being punted into the path of an oncoming train...

 

[john349uk]

general aura of railwayness

"Apologies Officer, on this occasion the general aura of railwayness seems to have evaded my senses as I sped through the flashing lights and lowering barriers."

"Easily done Sir, off you go."

 

[Purple Train]

The fact that the OP is actually concerned about their driving in this one instance shows that they are a far more thoughtful and considerate driver than many encountered on the roads. As far as infringements on level crossings go, I've seen worse (albeit as a pedestrian) - in some places there's almost a competition as to who can go through last!

 

[JamieL]

On the pedestrian side, I happened to be in Southampton today at the Mount Pleasant Road crossing. Why this mainline crossing hasn't be made into a road bridge I don't know. Anyway, despite a passenger footbridge, two individuals ran across the crossing after the lights had gone red, the nearside barriers were fully down and the far side barriers had started to lower. As they entered the crossing, the remaining barriers stopped at a 45 degree angle. Is this crossing CCTV monitored or was that a trip of a sensor? The barriers fully lowered once they got clear on the other side.

They were crossing towards me so when we passed I pointed out the footbridge but they seemed to find it all very funny!

 

[Parham Wood]

This is what the highway code says:

Rule 291​

A level crossing is where a road crosses a railway or tramway line. Approach and cross it with care. Never drive onto a crossing until the road is clear on the other side and do not get too close to the car in front.

Rule 293​

Controlled Crossings. Most crossings have traffic light signals with a steady amber light, twin flashing red stop lights (see ‘Light signals controlling traffic’ and ‘Traffic signs’) and an audible alarm for pedestrians. They may have full, half or no barriers.

• You MUST always obey the flashing red stop lights.
• You MUST stop behind the white line across the road.
• Keep going if you have already crossed the white line when the amber light comes on.

For ordinary traffic lights it says:
AMBER means ‘Stop’ at the stop line. You may go on only if the AMBER appears after you have crossed the stop line or are so close to it that to pull up might cause an accident
GREEN means you may go on if the way is clear. Take special care if you intend to turn left or right and give way to pedestrians who are crossing

In a way the Code is not specific on these matters leaving a wide room for interpretation. The key however is not to go through on red. I have seen specimen test paper answers where if the light is green you do not need to slow down other papers give different answers, you should maintain your speed. I find this difficult to follow totally as it depends on your speed, how far you are away from the lights etc. I have seen a video blog by a driving instructor who says that once you reach a certain point approaching lights, without reducing your legal/sensible speed if they change to amber you go through, in fact he says at this point onwards do not look at the lights concentrate on the road. Of course this "point" is open to interpretation and experience. Personally I approach lights so that I could stop by the time they get to red even if it means slowing down a little, but will go through on amber if too close to stop safely. For level crossing I tend to be a little more cautious as you never know what the road condition over them is like. So I cannot see what you did was wrong, it depends only if you crossed the stop line on red.

 

[Deepgreen]

Indeed, and also run the risk of having the car damaged so as to be undriveable and being punted into the path of an oncoming train...

Well, then we enter a whole new arena of what constitutes a safe stop, and so on, and so on...

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 23 Sep 2023 ==

The fact that the OP is actually concerned about their driving in this one instance shows that they are a far more thoughtful and considerate driver than many encountered on the roads. As far as infringements on level crossings go, I've seen worse (albeit as a pedestrian) - in some places there's almost a competition as to who can go through last!

Agreed; I was thinking how self-deprecating the OP was.

 

[Egg Centric]

Should you have stopped? Yes
Would you have had to "brake hard" as some are suggesting? No - cars are not trains
Is it a big deal? Not at all
Will anything happen? Almost certainly not
Is it a learning experience? Yes
Have you got the right attitude that will probably make you a safer driver if you're getting concerned about things like this? Yes
Is it bacon o clock? Yes

 

[burneraccount0]

Should you have stopped? Yes
Would you have had to "brake hard" as some are suggesting? No - cars are not trains
Is it a big deal? Not at all
Will anything happen? Almost certainly not
Is it a learning experience? Yes
Have you got the right attitude that will probably make you a safer driver if you're getting concerned about things like this? Yes
Is it bacon o clock? Yes

Your comment has given me ease as well as a good laugh. Thank you Mr/Mrs Egg Centric.

 

[Mag_seven]

And on that note we will draw this one to a close. Thanks all.