Michael Hodgson Posted July 16, 2021 Share Posted July 16, 2021 6 hours ago, Ian Smeeton said: I'll just leave this here: Regards Ian To be fair to the driver of that car, the Instructions on the sign by the wicket gate (intended for pedestrians, cyclists and horsemen) are different from the Instructions under the miniature stop lights. I don't know what the notices on the far side of the line are of course. The railway and perhaps the law might think it's a public foot/bridle crossing adjacent to a private vehicular level crossing, but the layman sees it all as one level crossing. The public just don't understand these crossings and it is very poor signage to have two sets of instructions with different wording. Like so many crossings there are too many notices and the important one may not get read. Does the notice about rozzers really contribute anything? It 's not as bad as some others though - I don't see warnings about 25 kV and overheight vehicles. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Hodgson Posted July 16, 2021 Share Posted July 16, 2021 5 hours ago, PhilJ W said: Stolen car, police officers hurt trying to stop him. Hope he gets caught. Makes a change from the usual idiot turning onto the track because his satnav said so. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
62613 Posted July 16, 2021 Share Posted July 16, 2021 6 hours ago, Michael Hodgson said: To be fair to the driver of that car, the Instructions on the sign by the wicket gate (intended for pedestrians, cyclists and horsemen) are different from the Instructions under the miniature stop lights. I don't know what the notices on the far side of the line are of course. The railway and perhaps the law might think it's a public foot/bridle crossing adjacent to a private vehicular level crossing, but the layman sees it all as one level crossing. The public just don't understand these crossings and it is very poor signage to have two sets of instructions with different wording. Like so many crossings there are too many notices and the important one may not get read. Does the notice about rozzers really contribute anything? It 's not as bad as some others though - I don't see warnings about 25 kV and overheight vehicles. Aren't you in any case supposed to open both gates before crossing? He was fortunate someone was there filming his idiocy! 4 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium boxbrownie Posted July 16, 2021 RMweb Premium Share Posted July 16, 2021 1 hour ago, 62613 said: Aren't you in any case supposed to open both gates before crossing? He was fortunate someone was there filming his idiocy! I thought that’s what it said on the sign… 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Hodgson Posted July 16, 2021 Share Posted July 16, 2021 1 hour ago, 62613 said: Aren't you in any case supposed to open both gates before crossing? He was fortunate someone was there filming his idiocy! Yes, you are. One of the signs does say that, although it really isn't that obvious. The other Instructions notice doesn't tell you to touch the gates. It tells you to cross only when the green light shows and to cross quickly. It can be argued that the quickest way to cross with a car is the way he did. To open both gates first, you have to cross the tracks on foot twice and twice again afterwards to close them, which takes marginally longer. Because these crossings are automatic and not protected by signals it is possible that a train will strike in and the light will change to red while you are opening the gates. That's why it's important to check the light is still green when you get back to the car, though in this case he had just started moving onto the crossing when the light changed. The public are used to gated crossings being protected by signals and don't understand how quickly a train can appear. 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
SamThomas Posted July 16, 2021 Share Posted July 16, 2021 14 hours ago, stewartingram said: So that van driver didn't read the very clear instructions that were on that sign? There, I've corrected it for you! The van driver may have been illiterate. The van driver may have read the instructions & did'nt understand them. The van driver may have ignored the instructions. Who knows but certainly the van driver was either born stupid or took lessons on terminal stupdity. 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold beast66606 Posted July 16, 2021 RMweb Gold Share Posted July 16, 2021 As an aside from the merits or otherwise of the signage, in the same situation I would have opened the gates on "my" side of the crossing to allow the van to cross quickly anyway - I've done this loads of times when out and about photographing. 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hroth Posted July 16, 2021 Share Posted July 16, 2021 Behaving stupidly at level crossings is so old. Why not drive along the tracks and through a station? https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-beds-bucks-herts-57866714 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wickham Green too Posted July 16, 2021 Share Posted July 16, 2021 19 hours ago, Michael Hodgson said: Makes a change from the usual idiot turning onto the track because his satnav said so. C'mon ....... would you have chosen to turn onto the railway to get away when the obvious route would be through the second gate - I reckon it WAS satnav. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jcm@gwr Posted July 16, 2021 Share Posted July 16, 2021 12 minutes ago, Wickham Green too said: C'mon ....... would you have chosen to turn onto the railway to get away when the obvious route would be through the second gate - I reckon it WAS satnav. I reckon he hoped that the police couldn't/wouldn't follow! 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Hodgson Posted July 17, 2021 Share Posted July 17, 2021 4 hours ago, Wickham Green too said: C'mon ....... would you have chosen to turn onto the railway to get away when the obvious route would be through the second gate - I reckon it WAS satnav. What I would have done isn't really the point - I wouldn't have nicked the motor! 1 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RJS1977 Posted July 17, 2021 Share Posted July 17, 2021 16 hours ago, Hroth said: Behaving stupidly at level crossings is so old. Why not drive along the tracks and through a station? https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-beds-bucks-herts-57866714 Clearly been watching too many old Bond films: 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wickham Green too Posted July 17, 2021 Share Posted July 17, 2021 ..... or remembered the film being made - only about 80 miles away ! 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
alastairq Posted July 17, 2021 Share Posted July 17, 2021 On 16/07/2021 at 01:54, Michael Hodgson said: Makes a change from the usual idiot turning onto the track because his satnav said so. Pre-sat nav [pre-everything, really] I once observed a person [gender neutrale] turn left onto the railway tracks at Bridlington Quay Road crossing, to stop right outside the signal box. In those days the sign pointing to the 'station' was quite close to the crossing, as was the station access road. I was a bus driver for EYMS at the time... 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Hodgson Posted July 17, 2021 Share Posted July 17, 2021 13 minutes ago, alastairq said: Pre-sat nav [pre-everything, really] I once observed a person [gender neutrale] turn left onto the railway tracks at Bridlington Quay Road crossing, to stop right outside the signal box. In those days the sign pointing to the 'station' was quite close to the crossing, as was the station access road. I was a bus driver for EYMS at the time... Perhaps he was a fireman observing Rule 55? 4 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
alastairq Posted July 17, 2021 Share Posted July 17, 2021 39 minutes ago, Michael Hodgson said: Perhaps he was a fireman observing Rule 55? Tut tut! It was a lady of the opposite gender.. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wickham Green too Posted July 17, 2021 Share Posted July 17, 2021 OK - a 'fireperson', then. 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium kevinlms Posted July 17, 2021 RMweb Premium Share Posted July 17, 2021 On 16/07/2021 at 18:51, Michael Hodgson said: It can be argued that the quickest way to cross with a car is the way he did. To open both gates first, you have to cross the tracks on foot twice and twice again afterwards to close them, which takes marginally longer. No, the aim which isn't explicitly explained, is to get the vehicle across the level crossing in the shortest possible time, without stopping on the crossing. So the correct procedure, is to check the green light, if on, open the nearest gate. Check light still green, if it is walk across to the other side and open 2nd gate. Check for the green light on 2nd side. If it is on walk back across to the vehicle and get in, check for green light again, if it is drive across without stopping and stop clear of the gates. Repeat the process of closing both gates, checking for green light at all stages before you cross on foot or driving. If at any time, the light is red, clear the crossing, as quickly and calmly as possible. All that is far to long, to put on a sign, but it's basically the procedure. The whole process is much easier with 2 people. Much like a farm gate. 1 3 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold martin_wynne Posted July 17, 2021 RMweb Gold Share Posted July 17, 2021 16 minutes ago, kevinlms said: No, the aim which isn't explicitly explained, is to get the vehicle across the level crossing in the shortest possible time, without stopping on the crossing. So the correct procedure, is to check the green light, if on, open the nearest gate. Check light still green, if it is walk across to the other side and open 2nd gate. Check for the green light on 2nd side. If it is on walk back across to the vehicle and get in, check for green light again, if it is drive across without stopping and stop clear of the gates. Repeat the process of closing both gates, checking for green light at all stages before you cross on foot or driving. If at any time, the light is red, clear the crossing, as quickly and calmly as possible. All that is far to long, to put on a sign, but it's basically the procedure. The whole process is much easier with 2 people. Much like a farm gate. And how much simpler and safer would it be if the gate was set back a typical vehicle length from the track? You could then get through and close the first gate, check for a green light on the opposite side, drive across, get through and close the second gate. No walking to and fro, no risk of stopping on the tracks. Martin. 2 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
LMS2968 Posted July 17, 2021 Share Posted July 17, 2021 3 minutes ago, martin_wynne said: And how much simpler and safer would it be if the gate was set back a typical vehicle length from the track? You could then get through and close the first gate, check for a green light on the opposite side, drive across, get through and close the second gate. No walking to and fro, no risk of stopping on the tracks. Martin. Could you tell us what a vehicle length is, please? Are we talking about a motor bike or a 44T tri axle artic and trailer? 1 5 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold martin_wynne Posted July 17, 2021 RMweb Gold Share Posted July 17, 2021 1 minute ago, LMS2968 said: Could you tell us what a vehicle length is, please? Are we talking about a motor bike or a 44T tri axle artic and trailer? Sigh. I said "typical" vehicle length. Say anything with 4 wheels. Anyone driving a long vehicle would know that they can't fit between the gate and the track. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Ian Smeeton Posted July 17, 2021 RMweb Premium Share Posted July 17, 2021 7 minutes ago, martin_wynne said: Sigh. I said "typical" vehicle length. Say anything with 4 wheels. Anyone driving a long vehicle would know that they can't fit between the gate and the track. Just like they know they can fit under that bridge Ian 6 7 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium corneliuslundie Posted July 17, 2021 RMweb Premium Share Posted July 17, 2021 Is part of the problem that there are several different arrangements depending on the status of the crossing, and many drivers may only come across them very occasionally? And the driver might have assumed that once the gate had been opened it would keep the railway signals at red. We know that is not true but for someone not familiar with the way railways operate it might seem the obvious safety procedure to have in place. What was not clear to me from the video was whether the first gate he came to was already open. I hope not but it is possible. And who was videoing the whole thing anyway? It was not an official cctv as it was someone walking around. Jonathan 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
alastairq Posted July 17, 2021 Share Posted July 17, 2021 Introduce the 'fear' factor and the whole process speeds up considerably? A sign telling a driver, ''We're not going to tell you if a train is coming!!'' might encourage a bit of wariness?? Perhaps one of those talking apps might help? [Seeing as we're expected to download apps on our n0t very smart phone for just about everything these days, that matters?] 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium iands Posted July 17, 2021 RMweb Premium Share Posted July 17, 2021 2 hours ago, martin_wynne said: And how much simpler and safer would it be if the gate was set back a typical vehicle length from the track? You could then get through and close the first gate, check for a green light on the opposite side, drive across, get through and close the second gate. No walking to and fro, no risk of stopping on the tracks. Martin. Surely the idea is to avoid getting a vehicle (of any size) trapped between the gate and running line. 1 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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