BBC reporting LIVE from Kidderminster

[infoman]

Not sure of the location of the level crossing,as its not my area.

 

[Class172]

I would expect it is Hartlebury train station. The report appears to be about the dangers of using level crossings around Christmas.

 

[Nym]

Does christmas change the hazards?

 

[AM9]

Does christmas change the hazards?

No, but it does increase the stupidity of some users, giving the media something to broadcast on a slow news day.

 

[Polarbear]

Does christmas change the hazards?

No, but due to increased booze consumption over the festive period, it does increase the likelihood of some people becoming significantly less aware of said hazards.

 

[KTHV]

No, but due to increased booze consumption over the festive period, it does increase the likelihood of some people becoming significantly less aware of said hazards.

Irony is - if they are at Hartlebury today - there's a pub and a brewery next to one of the platforms...

 

[6Gman]

Does christmas change the hazards?

Reindeer on the line?

 

[AndrewE]

I expect it's a response to (or inspired by) this:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-hampshire-38079092

Man 'sucked on to live rail' by current in Totton

which happened in Aug 2015 but the report goes on to say

Network Rail said it was publicising the story because December usually saw a 25% rise in alcohol-related incidents on the railway.

(my emphasis.
Full marks to them all for trying to highlight & possibly reduce the consequences (and inconvenience to the rest of us) of December drinking.

 

[miami]

No, but due to increased booze consumption over the festive period, it does increase the likelihood of some people becoming significantly less aware of said hazards.

Drunk people are a hazard, and there are more drunk at christmas, so yes, christmas time does change (increase) the hazards. There's more suicides too at that time.

There's also the fact that winter is upon us - unexpected ice means people can slip, the cold and dark weather means people aren't as happy to wait for 5 minutes for the barriers to be down and are more likely to take chances.

January has more people sober than normal (it's a popular 'detox' month, and people are broke having overspent at christmas), and people are more used to the weather. By the time February rolls round the nights are getting shorter - days are 2 hours longer than in December