A reminder to farmers to use level crossings safely this harvest

There are hundreds of user-worked crossings on farmland in Britain, which see a marked increase in traffic during the harvest season – figures collated over the past 10 years reveal that the number of collisions and near misses at these types of crossings sharply increases over the harvest months*.

Harvest gathering is an extremely busy time for farmers with level crossings that are seldom used during the rest of the year coming into almost constant use.

Since the beginning of June 2014, Network Rail have recorded dozens of incidents of level crossing misuse on farm crossings. Fortunately none of these have resulted in collisions or serious harm but they have caused over 10n hours of delays to rail services.

“Farmers with land either side of the railway rely heavily on being able to use level crossings. We remind our members to follow the safe working procedures for the particular crossing, cutting corners can cost lives.”

National Farmers’ Union regulatory affairs adviser Ben Ellis

Using a user-worked crossing safely

General advice for the safe operation of a user worked crossing include:

• Read all the signs and follow the instructions
• If there are no lights, stop, look both ways and listen before you cross
• If there is a railway telephone, always use it to contact the signal operator to make sure it is safe to cross
• Inform the signal operator again when you are clear of the crossing so trains are not unnecessarily delayed
• Train speeds can be deceptive so don’t ever be fooled into thinking that you can beat an approaching train

More about how to use crossings safely is at networkrail.co.uk/level-crossings/using-level-crossings

Awareness programme for drivers

Earlier this year, Network Rail launched a nationwide awareness programme targeting motorists who drive for a living.

The programme, delivered by our team of 100 level crossing managers, provides training sessions reminding drivers that although it may seem an inconvenience to have to wait at a crossing, especially when they are trying to meet delivery deadlines, crossings are in place to save lives – theirs as well as those on trains.

As well as the risk to life, it is a criminal offence to misuse a level crossing.

*Figures collated by the Rail Safety and Standards Board between 2004 and 2013 and split by calendar month to obtain an annual seasonality average reveal a marked increase in collisions and near misses at user worked crossings over the harvest months.