Here in Scotland we have 37 level crossings with full barriers, 32 with partial barriers and 23 open, or unmanned, crossings. Many of the latter are located in the Highlands (where I live). As far as I know, all crossings on public highways do have lights and audible warnings when a train is approaching (within about 20 seconds) but in spite of this there have been several accidents in the last year where the inevitable car-meets-train confrontation has ended up with mangled vehicles and, in some cases, deaths. Stands to reason really. 150 tonnes vs 1 tonne; who wins? Most of the drivers concerned wouldn't think twice about running a red traffic light so why to they run the lights on crossings? This evening, on Reporting Scotland, several instances of VERY close encounters between vehicles and trains were shown - it made us cringe. Sadly, I have not been able to find a link to the video footage but there is a webpage with a news item and this includes an excerpt from a recent radio broadcast. You can see it here:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/...and_islands/10365997.stm

As the subject line asks, "Is this a peculiarly British problem or is it worldwide - level crossings?"

All the best,
Chris.

There have been many deaths in Aaustralia.
In fact a lorry driver was convicted of manslaughter in 2009, when the train he hit killed 9 persons.
That crossing was protected by flashing lights.
It is sad reality.

One method that might reduce the incidence, is to put audible and visual warnings in all vehicle navigation devices, sat navs etc, for the road users.

It is every driver attitude towards traffic, regardless, trains, trucks, pedestrians, traffic lights, pedestrian crossings, schoolzones restriction etc. etc.

What gets me, you travel along a road (80km/h) and you are approaching red trafficlights.
The car behind you travelles at 100km/h and inidcates to you, move over.
I think, where is he or she going with red traffic lights.
It is'nt about speed, it is, I own this road and therefore I can drive with no regulations and can choose the speed I feel is right for me.

The other reason is: it's all about "ME".
I can do what ever I feel like doing, it usually works fine while you sit at home and get supported by your family, than you buy a high powered car with a good stereo radio so you can blast the music(?) to its highest value.

Fatique: you drive along a nice countryroad, no one around, nice suroundings, lovely scenery, the only noise: the engine and the radio or cd and if you are within reach of a mobile phone receiving tower, a conversation on the phone isn't out of question, your attention is now directed at the next party and you loose the will to drive, your driving behaviour is becoming erratic, your car is'nt travelling in a straight line anymore.

Statistics alos show, some fatal accidents occur near your home, you relax, you're thoughts are already at home, getting on with your train layout, how you're going to fix the tracks onto your board and you've got a visual picture in front of you, of your new loco or carriage.
Your attention to concentration, visual observation and being aware you're driving a car is out the window.

I'm in a hurry: How many times have I travelled in my car and being overtaken by another car being in a hurry and by doing this going well over the speed limit.
Who sits at the next traffic lights, yes its the same car, the next traffic lights, the same car, in one instance I've travelled over 20km/h and the car did'nt get any further.

The type of car you drive:
Why is it, people with luxury cars always have to be faster than you ?
Is it, because they can afford speeding fines.

Than there are Sunday drivers, which can cause accidents, slow drivers who don't know were they are going,
and of course drivers, who have the ability to do multi functions while driving, smoking, talking on the phone and re-constructing their face all at the same time.

There are also exceptional circumstances, e.g. stealing a car, driving without a licence, driving not having a licence, driving under the influence of drugs, driving at an age of, by standing up in the car, starting at 10.

The problem with public transport is, the industrial revolution never looks back what it was like before, without a car and we've never been able to meet the demand to get from point A to point B, because we are all in a hurry, for what ?
I'm going down the shop quick, I'll take the kids to school, I'll take the car for a service but you have to come along with your car, so I can drive myself back home.
I'm going to work, go shopping, go for a holiday, need to get out of the house.

I realize, having all these fatal car accidents shown on TV, does'nt make the slightest difference.
Young people don't watch the news and if they would, it never happens to me.

John

And a device to send 10,000 volts to the driver's testicles when the approach is not slow enough...

worldwide trouble, there are always stupids who cross the level crossing after the red lights are on!!!!!!
they decided in France to fit fix cameras on some levels crossing to catch some idiots

I blame Australian Audi drivers. If we all drove a Volvo (all Volvo drivers are top class and very safe drivers) thne everything would be OK.

Dave

Hello Mr Flash Dave. Are Australian Kia drivers OK?

Umm, NZ never ditched the cowcatcher. I think we just need to ditch the health&safety paperwork.

Or re-introduce steam engines

At least they have news footage when there is a crash.

---

Another problem I see is when the signals are in disrepair and turn on when a train is not present, this rarely happens on main lines but some times on branch lines. Bad drives then seem to think that if the signal is on and they don't see a train, then the signal must be broke.

In the last few years or so the main lines have replace the signal boxes with new ones and added new bright white lights shining down the track so the engineer can see that the signal is in proper working order from a distance. Must give some peace of mind to the engineer to know when the train reaches the crossing the signal is working.

Then you have the really stupid people that think the train should stop from them.

Pity, it is not much better in The Netherlands. If a railway must be updated, ProRail always tries to remove the railway crossings and replace them by bridges.
And please note that we have in The Netherlands much noisier bells, and more flashing lights, based on American practice.

Hi,

this is definitely a world-wide problem...! Being a 1:1 scale locomotive-engineer I occasionally encounter these #¤%¤&%!
but what's actually worse, are those people crossing the tracks (mostly in station areas) who think they 'see' everthing (including a closing train).

I wish Sweden had the british (happen to be in the UK right now) penalty for this - and someone who where authorized to claim it!

People simply doesn't have respect for the dangers, they actually believe a train can stop in front of them - well we can't! Therefore accidents happen - like the one in Spain just a few days ago...

Same here in the U. S. One commuter line I used in Chicago used to have level crossings at a certain stretch, but apparently there were so many accidents, they lowered about 1 mile of the track into the ground and built bridges over it. Level crossings exist in the U. S. by the thousands. - no signs, signs, exempt signs, road signs, "Do Not Stop on Track" signs, "Stop Here (arrow pointing in front of the track) on Red)" signs, and lights, bells, train horns, everything, and accidents still happen. :P

http://hamptonroads.com/...train-collision?cid=ltst

Happens all over. Although, it seems this crossing didn't have signs. This is really surprising to me as Amtrak isn't exactly ambling along. An older lady would be particularly vulnerable as one of the the problems with getting older is that your peripheral vision begins to decline.