Drivers and pedestrians ignore safety warning on Level Crossing Awareness Day
Five pedestrians and two drivers were caught misusing Crawley’s level crossings today (Wednesday October 24) even though emergency services were on site trying to educate people about the dangers of ignoring safety rules.
Firefighters, police and Network Rail staff have joined forces to launch the Level Crossing Awareness Day to highlight the dangers of misusing the railway crossings the ones in Horsham Road and Brighton Road were found to be the most dangerous in Sussex.
Officials chatted informally to drivers and pedestrians about the risks they run if they misuse the crossings, as well as giving out specially designed postcards, and reinforcing the message that risking your life and the lives of others to save a few seconds is not worth it.
But despite a camera positioned at the Horsham Road level crossing and the police presence, Richard Davy, West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service Deputy District Commander for Crawley and Mid Sussex, said pedestrians and drivers were still openly taking risks on the railway line.
He said: “It has happened right in front of us this morning. We had a car nearly get trapped under the barrier this morning and two pedestrians running across while the barriers were coming down.
“We need people to realise that a train cannot stop for you and the barriers are there for a reason and the barriers will stay down. Pedestrians try to climb over the barriers or run underneath them. Just think about what you are doing. We need to keep you safe, and that’s what the barriers are there for.”
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Weather for Crawley
Thursday 23 May 2013
Today
Light showers
Temperature: 4 C to 12 C
Wind Speed: 21 mph
Wind direction: North west
Tomorrow
Light showers
Temperature: 6 C to 11 C
Wind Speed: 18 mph
Wind direction: West
