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Level crossings: Wales safety work after 33 near misses | Level crossings: Wales safety work after 33 near misses |
(35 minutes later) | |
Work is to be carried out to make level crossings safer after 33 people had near misses as pedestrians or motorists and two crashes in Wales in the past year. | Work is to be carried out to make level crossings safer after 33 people had near misses as pedestrians or motorists and two crashes in Wales in the past year. |
Network Rail will be building footbridges, adding new barriers and using more modern technology. | Network Rail will be building footbridges, adding new barriers and using more modern technology. |
It is also closing some level crossings and appointing managers at nine. | It is also closing some level crossings and appointing managers at nine. |
Around the UK, nine people were killed at level crossings, although none were in Wales. | Around the UK, nine people were killed at level crossings, although none were in Wales. |
Insp Mike Edwards, of British Transport Police (BTP) in Cardiff, said most accidents at level crossings were down to impatience and a desire to "beat the train". | Insp Mike Edwards, of British Transport Police (BTP) in Cardiff, said most accidents at level crossings were down to impatience and a desire to "beat the train". |
"It is incredible that, despite some highly publicised incidents, some people are still putting their lives on the line by ignoring warning lights and sirens," he said. | "It is incredible that, despite some highly publicised incidents, some people are still putting their lives on the line by ignoring warning lights and sirens," he said. |
"This is hugely irresponsible and dangerous. For the sake of 60 seconds, a little patience can prevent lives being ruined." | "This is hugely irresponsible and dangerous. For the sake of 60 seconds, a little patience can prevent lives being ruined." |
Network Rail said the surest way to prevent any accidents was to close level crossings. | Network Rail said the surest way to prevent any accidents was to close level crossings. |
It said there were about 1,165 level crossings in Wales, and 175 have been closed or downgraded over the past five years. | |
Network Rail has allocated £1.8m for level crossing schemes from 2009-2013, although it said it was difficult to calculate the exact amount spent. | |
But an estimated total of £6m has gone into improvement projects in south and west Wales which have included level crossing works, and over the next months there will be a series of "risk reduction" programmes, including upgrading existing level crossings, red light CCTV safety cameras and level crossing closures. | |
'Prevention and education' | |
Since 2009, 700 have closed around the UK and the company hopes to shut another 50 by next year. | |
"Where a road or footpath meets the railway there will always be a risk - tragically, for a few people every year, this results in injury or loss of life," said Tracey Young, Network Rail's community safety manager for Wales. | "Where a road or footpath meets the railway there will always be a risk - tragically, for a few people every year, this results in injury or loss of life," said Tracey Young, Network Rail's community safety manager for Wales. |
"We want to reduce the chances of this happening as much as possible." | "We want to reduce the chances of this happening as much as possible." |
The company says at those crossings it cannot close, it intends to boost safety by building footbridges, adding new barriers and using new technology. | The company says at those crossings it cannot close, it intends to boost safety by building footbridges, adding new barriers and using new technology. |
Across the UK it is investing £130m on the improvements, although the company said it was unable to say how much of that would be spent in Wales, where there are about 1,200 level crossings. | Across the UK it is investing £130m on the improvements, although the company said it was unable to say how much of that would be spent in Wales, where there are about 1,200 level crossings. |
Network Rail has also been holding safety awareness days at level crossings, advising people how to use them safely, along with BTP and Arriva Trains Wales. | Network Rail has also been holding safety awareness days at level crossings, advising people how to use them safely, along with BTP and Arriva Trains Wales. |
Insp Edwards added: "The key thing for us is not prosecution, but prevention and education. | Insp Edwards added: "The key thing for us is not prosecution, but prevention and education. |
"We want to change the behaviour of motorists and pedestrians who misuse crossings." | "We want to change the behaviour of motorists and pedestrians who misuse crossings." |
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