"Train Collision on level crossing, Newquay"

[Terrafire]

Regardless of the actions in this particular case, unbarriered crossings like this are a bad idea. Level crossings should have barriers; if numerous dingy private car parks can manage it then Network Rail really has no excuse. Yes, this woman was stupid, but that's the human condition - it's in everyone's interest to prevent incidents like this.

 

[Cliveblackpool]

The woman looked quiet shaken in the interview.
Imo she told the truth as she saw those last few seconds before the bang (or didn't see it)This probably saved the BTP etc quite a bit of time wasting.
Several possible road traffic violations to take into account, but she was very lucky not to lose her life, or put persons on the train in danger.

The rumble strips looking at google appear worn.
I assume she was coming from a dark lane into a built up area with orange street lights.
as for her not noticing the red flashing lights at night will raise many questions.

 

[DavidBrown]

The rumble strips looking at google appear worn.

I believe that the crossing received a refit since Google went through, so all signs and markings have been updated, and so have the lights themselves, which are now LED, so there's REALLY no excuse for not seeing them!

 

[83G/84D]

The woman seems to have made a mistake - we all do at times however she was lucky she wasn't injured - a car can be replaced.

What she said afterwards might not be the cleverest thing to say indeed was it was to say anything to the press afterwards?

Hopefully the driver of the train is not too badly affected,being a relatively slow speed collision there were no injuries to train staff or passengers.

My feeling is that all crossings comply to rigorous standards and most (but not all) "accidents" at crossings are caused by motorists errors.

Perhaps better education of motorists of different types of crossings during driving tests.

I'm sure NR & BTP will carry out a full investigation.

 

[Laryk]

Regardless of the actions in this particular case, unbarriered crossings like this are a bad idea. Level crossings should have barriers; if numerous dingy private car parks can manage it then Network Rail really has no excuse. Yes, this woman was stupid, but that's the human condition - it's in everyone's interest to prevent incidents like this.

Agreed with this. If the crossing has lights, there must be track detection in place. So presumably most of the work is already done.

I'm sure NR & BTP will carry out a full investigation.

BTP have already finished according to

BBC radio cornwall reported at 9 this morning the investigations by btp are completed and closed

 

[anthony263]

The woman seems to have made a mistake - we all do at times however she was lucky she wasn't injured - a car can be replaced.

What she said afterwards might not be the cleverest thing to say indeed was it was to say anything to the press afterwards?

Hopefully the driver of the train is not too badly affected,being a relatively slow speed collision there were no injuries to train staff or passengers.

My feeling is that all crossings comply to rigorous standards and most (but not all) "accidents" at crossings are caused by motorists errors.

Perhaps better education of motorists of different types of crossings during driving tests.

I'm sure NR & BTP will carry out a full investigation.

I certainly share the opinion that a lot of inccidents involving level crossing are down to mistakes or the stupid actions of motorists.

Better education is certainly something that needs to be done

 

[matchmaker]

I certainly share the opinion that a lot of inccidents involving level crossing are down to mistakes or the stupid actions of motorists.

Better education is certainly something that needs to be done

Virtually ALL incidents involving level crossings are down to mistakes or the stupid actions of motorists!

 

[Temple Meads]

Because most drivers aren't properly trained professionals whose livelihood relies on superb performance we can't expect everyone to perform faultlessly on our roads, there are too many badly trained/badly behaving motorists, and then there's the fact that they may be in a severely sleep deprived state, if this woman was that tired then she shouldn't have been driving, whether that was the cause or whether she deliberately went through the crossing we don't yet know, but the main thing is that she and those on board on the train are uninjured.

To me the biggest failing seems to be the lack of barriers on the crossing, we just have to accept some motorists aren't up to scratch and thence should take all required precautions.

That's my 2p worth...

 

[BestWestern]

There's a lot of suggestion here of the standard charges of driving without due care and attention etc, but presumably the BTP could go for a specifically rail related offence if they felt so inclined, endangering a train or suchlike? I appreciate that this lady has at least had the good grace to be honest, although I get the impression that her frankness is because she has some misguided view that it wasn't actually entirely her fault, but even so this is a very serious incident and this needs to be reflected in any proceedings against her.

 

[Nym]

Even if you put AHBs up (what this crossing would likely get) you'll still have prats jumping them.

You don't need anything more than what is there if people obey THE LAW!

 

[Laryk]

Even if you put AHBs up (what this crossing would likely get) you'll still have prats jumping them.

You don't need anything more than what is there if people obey THE LAW!

True, but it would (hopefully) avoid the unfortunate accidents that this woman apparently had.

 

[Oswyntail]

Bleedin' irresponsible. The authorities should remove the hedgerows and cut down the ground level so that train drivers can see what is on the road

 

[Nym]

Or perhaps drivers should realise it's a blind corner and slow down and be prepared to stop for an obstruction or red light around the corner that you can't see round, as you're required to do under the highway code... No excuse for shéite driving! (Here echoeth the words of a very annoyed professional)

 

[Terrafire]

Even if you put AHBs up (what this crossing would likely get) you'll still have prats jumping them.

You don't need anything more than what is there if people obey THE LAW!

Well yes, but it's not a reasonable assumption to make that every single driver will obey the law.

 

[Nym]

Well yes, but it's not a reasonable assumption to make that every single driver will obey the law.

I have to obey the law and face the consequences if I don't, if I'd have run a level crossing I'd have lost my job in the process, the same as excessive speeding, off route working, and anything else wrong, illegal or not in the company's interests.

 

[Trog]

To me the biggest failing seems to be the lack of barriers on the crossing, we just have to accept some motorists aren't up to scratch and thence should take all required precautions.

That's my 2p worth...

If you did all that it would only be a matter of time before a better idiot came along.



There comes a point in all safety measures after which there are better things to spend your money on.

 

[yorksrob]

I'm all for the idea of having better barriers and flashing lights on level crossings. I just think the Highways Agency/Local Authority transport departments should be made to pay for it - since it's their uncontrollable clients that seem to cause the problems most of the time.

 

[Terrafire]

I have to obey the law and face the consequences if I don't, if I'd have run a level crossing I'd have lost my job in the process, the same as excessive speeding, off route working, and anything else wrong, illegal or not in the company's interests.

Sure, and I don't argue with the fact that the driver here should face penalties. But I was making the broader point that we just can't guarantee that everyone, in a population of 65m+, will follow the law. With big enough numbers, every possible scenario happens. And the consequences of one person breaking the law here could be very serious to many other blameless people. So this is an example of a situation where we should devote great efforts to preventing idiots from harming themselves by their own stupidity, because of the danger they put others in by that same act.

 

[Nym]

But it's not something that's difficult to obey, "Big flashy lights = stop!"

 

[Terrafire]

But it's not something that's difficult to obey, "Big flashy lights = stop!"

If you flip a coin 65 million times, it will land on its side roughly 11000 times. There's all sorts of idiots out there... do you drive? If you do, I'm sure you've seen them!

 

[Nym]

I drive lots, see many idiots and think they should all have their licences removed, and if they doesn't stop them driving, remove their legs.

 

[Essexman]

I was on the service before - after getting off at Newquay the next time I saw the train was on local TV news.

Surprised to see the car driver being interviewed on TV and not under arrest at the police station.

Her story that she slammed on the brakes but the train was going too fast is inconsistant. No matter how fast the train was going if she'd have stopped before the tracks it wouldn't have hit her. Speed of the train was therefore only an issue if she was trying to beat it across - in which case she wouldn't have hit the brakes.

She should be charged with the most serious offence possible.

 

[Schnellzug]

Reminds me rather of someone round here who managed to turn their Seat (or something mundane) upside down on a corner. She was proceeding at a perfectly reaonable speed, of course, the car just suddenly decided to roll over onto its roof.

Yes.

 

[BestWestern]

I was on the service before - after getting off at Newquay the next time I saw the train was on local TV news.

Surprised to see the car driver being interviewed on TV and not under arrest at the police station.

Her story that she slammed on the brakes but the train was going too fast is inconsistant. No matter how fast the train was going if she'd have stopped before the tracks it wouldn't have hit her. Speed of the train was therefore only an issue if she was trying to beat it across - in which case she wouldn't have hit the brakes.

She should be charged with the most serious offence possible.

Agreed. Granted we all make mistakes, but some are sufficiently serious and reckless to require a particularly harsh corrective punishment.

 

[GearJammer]

I drive lots, see many idiots and think they should all have their licences removed, and if they doesn't stop them driving, remove their legs.

Might i respectfully sugest that there may also be many people who have witnessed yourself (and everyone else who has posted on this topic) do something idiotic while behind the wheel (not nessarily at a level crossing) and think that you to should have your licence ripped up?

Makes me laugh, everyone on here makes out there great drivers and can do no wrong.... just because we know how to use a level crossing! I expect the woman involved could probably pick holes in all are driving styles if she was given the chance, just coz we all know how to safely use a level crossing does'nt mean were all safe behind the wheel in all circumstances.

I think we all need to sit back and look at are selves before critisising this woman to much.

 

[Pacerpilot]

If I disobeyed the red flashing light on the approach to an AOCL/AHBC and subsequently hit a car, I'm pretty sure I wouldn't drive a train again. Why should motorists be treated any differently? Ignorance is no excuse.

 

[Nym]

Might i respectfully sugest that there may also be many people who have witnessed yourself (and everyone else who has posted on this topic) do something idiotic while behind the wheel (not nessarily at a level crossing) and think that you to should have your licence ripped up?

I'm sure I have, but as I'm sure you know (if you've completed your CPC, or even if on grandfather rights) that you get trained to a higher standard to drive commercial vehicles, and some things that LGV/PCV drivers do as a matter of course are seen as anti-social or poor driving by non-professional motorists.

The main point I'm trying to get across being that I have never done anything illegal or legally classed as dangerous on the public roads where it would endanger either myself or any other road users.

Passing at least two more driving tests than most motorists to a higher standard than most as well indicates a higher level of training and skill. That goes for any PCV, LGV, Commercial, Military or IAM drivers.

Put it this way, if I collided with another vehicle or pedestrian as a result of negligence, I'd expect points on my licence as a minimum and potentially a prosecution, provided it was my negligence.

 

[richw]

The main point I'm trying to get across being that I have never done anything illegal or legally classed as dangerous on the public roads where it would endanger either myself or any other road users.

So your saying you've never exceeded a speed limit. I honestly dont believe that you havent, even if for a few hundred yards at a very small amount over the limit. I dont know anybody who hasnt exceeded a speed limit at some point.

 

[Oswyntail]

...

I think we all need to sit back and look at are selves before critisising this woman to much.

This from the "professional driver" who, on another thread, admitted to regularly and dangerously cutting up car drivers deliberately:roll: Why does common sense so often fly out of the window when we talk about driving?

 

[Nym]

Last 11 words of that quote qualify it nicely, I like most people won't openly admit to exceeding the speed limit.

And I didn't deliberately cut other drivers up when I was in commercials or military, unless they did it to me first... Then I could scare the hell out of them, knew the size of my vehicle, and you're going to do exactly 69.5mph...