Level Crossing stupidity

[lyndhurst25]

These scallywags have also been setting a very bad example, for the last 40 years. “Punk rockers”, I believe they call themselves. (Clutches pearls). I hope that everyone has also complained to their record company to get the album cover banned.

 

[DarloRich]

These scallywags have also been setting a very bad example, for the last 40 years. “Punk rockers”, I believe they call themselves. (Clutches pearls). I hope that everyone has also complained to their record company to get the album cover banned.

If that is The Clash then I think one of thier main objectives was to get the pearl clutches to complain!

 

[dakta]

Has to be some level of reasonable thinking here, if a professional production company is showing photography of dangerous locations you can bet a risk assessment has been carried out and people have been contacted, measure taken etc. We all know (I hope?) what we see on TV is not a parallel to the real world, and if you do, you've problems the BBC cannot fix.

If it weren't jumping red lights, it'd just move onto something else, like shooting your partner point blank through a encyclopaedia for likes

The problem isn't a railway one, it's a self responsibility one so with preaching to the BBC about something it's almost certainly done in a textbook manner, you're on the wrong battlefield and probably diverting efforts and attitudes away from where it could benefit.

I don't for a minute think it was BBC or celeb induced, but nearly had a head on earlier with a maniac who decided to overtaking on a blind corner towards me - I wasn't going fast, disaster averted but driving the other way later on and thinking about it whilst going his direction I couldn't see any kind of logic, even being somewhat sympathetic where any reasonable person would use that as the place for a maneuvre no matter how clear it was, and i'm a spirited driver. Some people just are reckless/stupid/something absent and I don't think we need celebs to appeal to bring that out.

 

[Dave W]

If that is The Clash then I think one of thier main objectives was to get the pearl clutches to complain!

Put Anita Rani in touch with them, quick! She'll need their advice when she gets the sack because users of a railway forum have created an ocean of froth!

 

[Western Gaffer]

These scallywags have also been setting a very bad example, for the last 40 years. “Punk rockers”, I believe they call themselves. (Clutches pearls). I hope that everyone has also complained to their record company to get the album cover banned.

They'd tired of waiting for the Train in Vain - go straight to hell, boys....

 

[61653 HTAFC]

Whilst I commented earlier that I'm sceptical of a direct causal link, there does seem to be a certain allure of railways for photographs, whether on album covers or on Instagram. Perhaps because railways represent a romantic idea of freedom and travel.
There is of course a world of difference between the cover art of Combat Rock, and some random young people messing about on a foot crossing.

 

[Thirteen]

I do think some people have a death wish in general. Playing on railway crossings is just pure idiocy.

 

[61653 HTAFC]

They'd tired of waiting for the Train in Vain - go straight to hell, boys....

This forum needs a "like" button, at least in the General section if the mods are worried about the corrupting influence it might have on the main railway related bits!

 

[SalzH]

As a signaller, I can unfortunately confirm incidents such as these are all to common. Its frustrating how much crossing misuse occurs on the railway.

Social media certainly doesn't help. These people are oblivious to how dangerous the railway can be. Frustrating.

 

[Taunton]

The last time Network Rail put out such a story for the less-competent news media to lap up, the one at Wedgwood crossing, did it not turn out that the lorry in question was actually contracted to Network Rail to deliver materials, and was under supervision of Network Rail personnel, who had been skilfully edited out of the released clip?

 

[John Luxton]

In late June I photographed a car going through the Britannia Crossing at Porthmadog in front of a Welsh Highland Railway train. My photograph clearly shows train, lights and car.

Since reporting it and receiving a reference number I have heard nothing back from North Wales Police. Just decided to check up on the status of my submission and this comes up:

"Thank you for your submission to Operation Snap. In this instance however, whilst the matter may appear straightforward, unfortunately, the evidential criteria for any legal action are not met. There is a system in place that reports contraventions at this particular location and if this vehicle has been reported via that system then appropriate action will be taken."

So there I was doing my bit to reduce level crossing idiocy and my photo didn't provide enough evidence!

 

[Mwanesh]

Don't even see what the fuss is about. You can have laws fences and everything. Idiots will still be there. You cant tell me a simple picture will influence people to do stupid stuff. We grew up watching the Dukes of Hazzard but never did we try to jump over ditches in a car

 

[noddingdonkey]

If the picture of Anita Rani under discussion is the same one as seen on the BBC website for her programme, it looks like that could conceivably have been taken from the end of an island platform between the two running lines?

 

[TUC]

I do think most of us are capable of telling the difference between a carefully staged shot for TV vs casually standing on a level crossing.

 

[Big Jumby 74]

So there I was doing my bit to reduce level crossing idiocy and my photo didn't provide enough evidence!

That demonstrates all too well what is wrong these days, too much Procedural BS within the system that ends up with genuine people doing their bit (as you have) losing interest in bothering at all the next time. It would be ironic if any such future incident (God forbid) ended up with a car flattened to 6 inches high under a loco, when I'm sure the relevant authorities would then be begging for dashcam or other evidence!

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 16 Aug 2023 ==

Don't even see what the fuss is about

Be VERY careful what you say my friend. I was about to go in to detail, but will resist. Sometimes people who through no fault of their own may find themselves unwell, and with what seems to be an almost unregulated access to such images on SM, some such people can make very bad, and fatal impulse decisions. Whilst this person had nothing to do with the railway, my job meant I also knew the Driver Manager who's job oversaw the duties of the totally innocent driver involved in this fatality, so please do not under estimate the results of such events.

MODS: I apologise for being blunt, but sometimes needs must. I can give location/date details privately should you wish to verify my comments.

 

[eldomtom2]

Be VERY careful what you say my friend. I was about to go in to detail, but will resist. Sometimes people who through no fault of their own may find themselves unwell, and with what seems to be an almost unregulated access to such images on SM, some such people can make very bad, and fatal impulse decisions. Whilst this person had nothing to do with the railway, my job meant I also knew the Driver Manager who's job oversaw the duties of the totally innocent driver involved in this fatality, so please do not under estimate the results of such events.

Was there any actual confirmation that the decision was an impulsive one?

 

[GusB]

I wonder how many people have actually viewed the footage before posting comments in this thread. Here's the link from Network Rail containing the relevant video clip:

Shocking CCTV compilation of Worcestershire level crossing misuse

Dog walkers sitting their pets on the tracks for photos, youths doing one-armed push ups and parents letting toddlers play on live railway lines, is just some of the incredibly dangerous behaviour caught on covert cameras this year at footpath level crossings in Worcestershire.

www.networkrailmediacentre.co.uk

In order the six clips show:

• 4 April 2023 – loud music playing while a teenager does one-armed press ups in the middle of a crossing.
• 14 March 2023 – a horn sounding as two dog walkers rush across 8 seconds before a high-speed train passes.
• 1 April 2023 – a dog walker encouraging two dogs to sit on the tracks while an onlooker takes a photo of them.
• 18 May 2023 – a primary school age boy on a scooter rushing over the crossing in front of an oncoming train which arrives 7 seconds later.
• 3 April 2023 – a man with two little girls using the rails to play on pointing out the ‘pretty hills’ in the distance to them. They were caught on camera on the tracks for over a minute and a half.
• 18 March 2023 – two boys placing ballast stones on the track so they are run over by trains.

It's one thing to bang on about personal responsibility, but is it really acceptable when an adult male stops to take pictures while his kids loiter on the crossing? One of them even says something like "is there a train coming?"

Ultimately it's the fault of the person who lingers to long if they get hit (or their idiotic parents), but they're not the only people who will be affected if they don't get off the crossing on time. I needn't say any more.

 

[eldomtom2]

I wonder how many people have actually viewed the footage before posting comments in this thread. Here's the link from Network Rail containing the relevant video clip:

This thread is not about the CCTV footage Network Rail has released. It is about promotional shots for a BBC show.

 

[Pete_uk]

...which the presenter had nothing to do with.

 

[Darandio]

This thread is not about the CCTV footage Network Rail has released. It is about promotional shots for a BBC show.

When you consider the thread title and the fact the very first line of text in the thread talks about the clip being on BBC news, i'd suggest it's both.

 

[eldomtom2]

When you consider the thread title and the fact the very first line of text in the thread talks about the clip being on BBC news, i'd suggest it's both.

I don't think so. The thrust of the OP is about the BBC promo shots.

 

[Dave W]

I don't think so. The thrust of the OP is about the BBC promo shots.

Let's not speak in euphemisms. The OP has turned a positive thing - mainstream coverage of a very good and justified media campaign about level crossing misuse - into a non-sequitur argument about a BBC presenter's interview in the Express and how everyone who has ever associated with the Beeb should be voluntarily offering themselves up for public flogging.

... Ironically undermining any reasonable point one might take from the video. Everyone's entitled to an opinion, though, innit.

 

[Deepgreen]

That’s not a real location, and is a fairly obvious bit of photo editing mashing three scenes together. No presenters were harmed, etc.

I don't necessarily agree that it is a 'mash-up" - looks like Egypt with the Nile and pyramids. They MAY have edited different shots together but all are potentially Egyptian.

 

[Darandio]

I don't necessarily agree that it is a 'mash-up" - looks like Egypt with the Nile and pyramids. They MAY have edited different shots together but all are potentially Egyptian.

Seems to fit the definition of mash up to me.

 

[blueberry11]

These yellow things are I assume, CCTV and ANPR cameras. They likely detect drivers (and possibly cyclists and pedestraisn) who cross the level crossing when it's on red. They may also detect speeding. I assume the penalty is the same as having a mobile phone while driving (6 points/£200 fine) as running a level crossing is worse than a traffic light.

Google Maps

Find local businesses, view maps and get driving directions in Google Maps.

www.google.com

 

[yorkie]

These yellow things are I assume, CCTV and ANPR cameras. They likely detect drivers (and possibly cyclists and pedestraisn) who cross the level crossing when it's on red. They may also detect speeding. I assume the penalty is the same as having a mobile phone while driving (6 points/£200 fine) as running a level crossing is worse than a traffic light.

Google Maps

Find local businesses, view maps and get driving directions in Google Maps.

www.google.com

These are just ANPR cameras for the propose of detecting vehicles which jump the red lights at the crossing.

 

[unslet]

Today on BBC Breakfast there was an item about a 5 year old lad doing a sponsored walk in aid of an air ambulance. All very admirable.
A series of stills were then shown to illustrate his outdoor pursuits. I have attached a screenshot of one such showing him on a double track railway. This does not reflect well on the BBC nor the photographer,presumably his parent.

 

[21C101]

I went to West Bay a few years ago and wandered along the railway line beside the platform.

It of course hasnt seen a train for about 90 years and dosent extend beyond the platform.

I couldn't stop myself looking back every few seconds though... and gave a chance to educate the kids on track etiquette ie walking on the ballast not the sleepers or track.

 

[desiro350]

Train carrying 40 passengers ploughs into tractor near Preston

Emergency services were called after 10.20am after receiving calls of a crash between a tractor and a train

www.lancs.live

So this happened this morning...156413 was the unit involved working 2N03 0946 Ormskirk-Preston. Unfortunately not the first time there's been a collision between train and tractor here. As well as a very good view of the line in both directions, the crossing in question also has red and green lights and a camera which has been there for well over a decade to catch misuse in the act, and yet...

 

[John Luxton]

Train carrying 40 passengers ploughs into tractor near Preston

Emergency services were called after 10.20am after receiving calls of a crash between a tractor and a train

www.lancs.live

So this happened this morning...156413 was the unit involved working 2N03 0946 Ormskirk-Preston. Unfortunately not the first time there's been a collision between train and tractor here. As well as a very good view of the line in both directions, the crossing in question also has red and green lights and a camera which has been there for well over a decade to catch misuse in the act, and yet...

I guess someone is going to end up in court! - Really no excuse.