Level Crossing Deaths

[hidetheelephants]

Link to story on Beeb

Am I the only one who thinks this is wrong, and it's just another case of a stupid driver who took a chance/can't read the signs/should never have had a licence in the first place?

Though I have sympathy for the families of those killed, the fact remains that the driver drove onto a level crossing with the warning lights flashing, and no doubt an audible warning in the form of a hooter or bell sounding the alarm. Why this, in conjuction with multiple signs warning of the crossing and how it operates, is inadequate to the task of dissuading people from taking the risk of crossing while a train is approaching is down to human nature. Evidence suggests that even when crossings have barriers, 13 people still managed to get themselves killed last year.

These crossings are not dangerous when you obey the instructions provided. Society has to decide whether an individual's lack of personal responsibility should, in this case, be compensated for by replacing all crossings with underpasses or bridges at a cost of many millions each. Is the consequent cost to society in the form of more expensive rail tickets greater than the cost of the few crossing accidents that occur? Why should everyone else have to suck up this cost?

Additionally, the woman who had a similar accident at the same crossing and is now seeking damages from Network Rail; why are they responsible for her stupidity? The crossing was inspected and found to be in working order. It is symptomatic of modern british society that people refuse to take responsibility for their own actions and the consequences of those actions, looking in the first instance for compensation when something goes wrong.

[hidetheelephants]

After posting it occurred to me that, as the woman seeking compo was pregnant at the time of her accident, she was obviously under the influence of a very special form of 'THE MENTAL'.

[Taffer]

Network Rail already provide the necessary safety devices, namely big signs saying 'LEVEL CROSSING' - the lights, bells and barriers are just extra security, which some people still manage to bypass (much to Darwin's delight). If you're incapable of stopping, looking left and right and checking for a 100-ton vehicle (yellow front, lights blazing), then you really shouldn't be driving. I feel sorry for the passengers that die in these accidents though, as they pay the ultimate price for someone else's mistake.

IIRC there was even a case of a grandmother and child killed at a pedestrian line crossing, and the family wanted the crossing closed and compensation paid. It was a tragic accident, yes, but if you can't handle the responsibility of checking if the line is safe, choose another route.


I am all in favour of fitting 'wild west' cow-catchers on all trains, and letting natural selection do its stuff.

Edited by Taffer on Wednesday 30th September 13:56

[Podie]

Sorry to hear people died, but you do have to wonder... crossing works and people still decide that they can beat the train. Trains tend not to swerve too well...

[BarnatosGhost]

Most of us learn at toddling that if you get in the way of something larger than you (like dad's leg, the dog, a Little Tikes Cozy Coupe) then you get knocked over.

Few of us who don't learn that make it to adulthood. Even fewer make it to our dotage.

Twas ever thus.

[Jasandjules]

You think you can make something idiot proof, then along comes an even bigger idiot. If barriers, lights and sirens are not enough to warn you of danger, then what hope is there?

[dirkgently]

Taffer said:

I am all in favour of fitting 'wild west' cow-catchers on all trains, and letting natural selection do its stuff.

Getting hit by a cow-catcher at 100mph would be like going through a bean slicer.

[FNG]

Jasandjules said:

You think you can make something idiot proof, then along comes an even bigger idiot. If barriers, lights and sirens are not enough to warn you of danger, then what hope is there?

Douglas Adams said:

A common mistake people make when trying to design something completely foolproof is to underestimate the ingenuity of complete fools.

[paulmurr]

I live about half a mile from the most abused level crossing in Scotland. Frankly you have to be utterly retarded to try and dodge around the barriers, yet many people choose to do so.

[hidetheelephants]

paulmurr said:

I live about half a mile from the most abused level crossing in Scotland. Frankly you have to be utterly retarded to try and dodge around the barriers, yet many people choose to do so.

There's an opportunity here; instead of making the crossings safer, we should get rid of the barriers and most of the signs. There'll be one sign and one flashing light, and the trains are fitted with a really dangerous and pointy thing that's guaranteed to cleave you and your car in two and allow the train to carry on unimpeded. Darwin would be proud.

[Nickyboy]

Problem is that people think that because they cant see a train then its safe to drive thru the barriers/lights. We should adopt a system like The States where the train has to blow its horn as it approaches a crossing, at least then anyone thinking of ignoring the warning devices will have a proper audiable warning that a train is imminent.

Like this

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jJANHkvFdXM&fea...

Would mean retrofitting trains with a proper horn rather then the pathetic 2 tones they have now

[BonzoGuinness]

Nickyboy said:

Problem is that these people are idiots and think that because they cant see a train then its safe to drive thru the barriers/lights.

EFA

[Nickyboy]

There is that too

[Parrot of Doom]

hidetheelephants said:

Link to story on Beeb

Am I the only one who thinks this is wrong, and it's just another case of a stupid driver who took a chance/can't read the signs/should never have had a licence in the first place?

Though I have sympathy for the families of those killed, the fact remains that the driver drove onto a level crossing with the warning lights flashing, and no doubt an audible warning in the form of a hooter or bell sounding the alarm. Why this, in conjuction with multiple signs warning of the crossing and how it operates, is inadequate to the task of dissuading people from taking the risk of crossing while a train is approaching is down to human nature. Evidence suggests that even when crossings have barriers, 13 people still managed to get themselves killed last year.

These crossings are not dangerous when you obey the instructions provided. Society has to decide whether an individual's lack of personal responsibility should, in this case, be compensated for by replacing all crossings with underpasses or bridges at a cost of many millions each. Is the consequent cost to society in the form of more expensive rail tickets greater than the cost of the few crossing accidents that occur? Why should everyone else have to suck up this cost?

Additionally, the woman who had a similar accident at the same crossing and is now seeking damages from Network Rail; why are they responsible for her stupidity? The crossing was inspected and found to be in working order. It is symptomatic of modern british society that people refuse to take responsibility for their own actions and the consequences of those actions, looking in the first instance for compensation when something goes wrong.

Or perhaps there was a fault with the crossing.

[BarnatosGhost]

Nickyboy said:

Problem is that people think that because they cant see a train then its safe to drive thru the barriers/lights. We should adopt a system like The States where the train has to blow its horn as it approaches a crossing, at least then anyone thinking of ignoring the warning devices will have a proper audiable warning that a train is imminent.

Like this

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jJANHkvFdXM&fea...

Would mean retrofitting trains with a proper horn rather then the pathetic 2 tones they have now

So on the odd occasion when the system fails or the driver forgets to toot his papper, it becomes the rail company's liability???

No thanks. dheads dying is always the fault of a dead dhead.

[Busa_Rush]

These are the same people who press a button that is marked "Do not press". They will always die, just in different ways. Prevent them doing it in one way and they will find another. I'd prefer not to pay for the various ways to be deleted . . . we'll end up in cotton wool jackets driving at 5mph on little scooters made of plastic.

[Podie]

Busa_Rush said:

we'll end up in cotton wool jackets driving at 5mph on little scooters made of plastic.

sounds dangerous!

[BarnatosGhost]

Podie said:

Busa_Rush said:

we'll end up in cotton wool jackets driving at 5mph on little scooters made of plastic.

sounds dangerous!

I can imagine some serious static build-up on an electric plastic shooter. Cotton-wool jackets should provide adequate kindling.

You first, daredevil, I'll stick to crawling around on all fours.

[Uncle Fester]

I don't, and wouldn't live in earshot of a railway.

If you lived near a level crossing imagine you would feel if, in addition to the existing noise, drivers were required to sound their horns every time they passed.

[Dr_Gonzo]

If big flashing lights, warning signs, and (on some crossings) barriers aren't enough to stop some people trying to cross when a train's coming I don't think a toot from the train itself will make much difference. The sad thing is that these mongs end up killing innocent people.