Once again an argument has begun over the safety of level crossings.
The ORR has come out saying that drivers who misuse level crossings should face a driving ban; it appears to me that
any driver who misuses a level crossing is lucky to be alive, never mind carrying on driving.
Network Rail’s statement saying ‘t here is stuff’ that they can do to increase afety, but that ‘ultimately this is a road issue and motorists who take a chance are a danger to themselves’, makes pretty clear their take on the situation.
There are also parties, such as Willie Coffey, SNP MSP, for Kilmarnock and Loudoun who have attacked the ORR, for being in his eyes ‘complacent’.
I can see both sides of the argument: of course motorists have a responsibility for their own safety, but at the same time more must be done to help people to realise the dangers, so perhaps spending more money in low level flashing lights at level crossings, whilst also continuing with poster campaigns might yield more fruitful results.
The government should make improving the safety of all level crossings a priority, whilst also putting in some helpful investment to secure more rail jobs. That way, everyone wins.
