Are The Rail Services To Blame

[cecil39]

Again on tonights news was a story about a rail death, how is anyone but the person or persons killed to blame? there are usually lights, bells or sirens, and a large notice warning of the danger, and also the knowledge that "ITS A RAIWAY CROSSING" why do these grown up people do it? unless they are both blind and deaf (and they would'nt be) yes I know its tragic and I feel for their families, but be honest, how can they blame the railway in such a case, tonight showed a person casually waking across when it was obvious that a train was due,WHY.

[woofgang]

No idea and yes its tragic, its also very stupid.

[mushroom25]

around the uk rail network yesterday, there were 4 deaths by collisions with trains. all were adjudged non-suspicious deliberate acts.

[emmie]

usually themselves to blame, sad but no idea why they do it.
I was on a train the other day, and we were held for about 20 minutes because someone was on the track ahead, according to the driver the person was a trespasser, so not only were we delayed but all the other trains waiting to go too, what moron would walk on live lines.

[zebo]

We saw the same item and said much the same things. It seemed that the person being interviewed wanted the pedestrian gates to lock when the barrier was down. If someone is dumb enough to walk through the gate when the barrier is down, the lights are flashing and the siren's screaming, that sme person would jump over a locked gate. It's impossible to legislate for idiots. I feel more sympathy for the driver of the train than for their families.

[Baldric]

As it's News, is there a link to the story?

[andy-hughes]

I think in most cases, the action is a suicide, because it's a foolproof way of achieving that aim.

If someone is daft enough to walk on the lines, then no amount of whisltes and bells will prevent that - but it is still a tragedy for all concerned if a fatality occurs.

[jno]

this sort of thing is terribly traumatic to the train drivers involved. Maybe someday one will sue the dead person's estate for compensation.

[Hopkirk]

What if you have someone with learning difficulties wearing headphones listening to loud music?

What if it is an elderly person with dementia?

Of course the pedestrian gates should lock when the road barriers are shut.

[dave50]

People who jump in front of trains to commit suicide are extremely selfish. If you want to top yourself, jump off a bridge or a high building when no one is around to witness it.

[woofgang]

Round us there are quite a few half barrier level crossings with huge red flasshing lights and sirens. People think they can run,cycle or occasionally drive across and beat the train....sometimes they can't, simple as that. Hopkirk I doubt very much that the issues that you raise are a factor. The people who see are usually young and fit although stupid.

[Jonathan-Joe]

OP is probably prompted by this http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-essex-21265392 incident at Witham, Essex.
National Rail are looking to increase safety at this site by installing a footbridge but local authority rejected the plans submitted.

[mushroom25]

//Hopkirk I doubt very much that the issues that you raise are a factor. The people who see are usually young and fit although stupid.//
bit of a generalisation, that - there are oftem many factors to be considered. have a look at this - http://www.raib.gov.uk/cms_resources.cfm?file=/120621_R102012_Mexico_FPC.pdf

[Hopkirk]

The incident at Elsenham, Essex was the perfect example, and now has pedestrian gates that lock when the road barriers are shut.

It was only possible to buy tickets on one side of the track, so northbound passengers had to cross the rails twice. (since the accident a ticket machine has been installed on the northbound side)

The barriers were closed and the sirens went off.

The train arrived and stopped.

Two girls who needed tickets opened the pedestrian gates and crossed.

They were hit by a second train that they hadn't expected. The curvature of the track gave only three seconds visibility of an approaching train.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-essex-17378565

[andy-hughes]

dave50 - suicide does not involve concepts like 'selfishness'.

That involves empathy and a facility to think outside the current mindset of the suicide, and by that stage, it is not possible so to do.

Consequences are not a factor - it's just about not suffering any more, that's all that's left.

[youngmafbog]

AH, clearly you have not done a lot of commuting.

[jno]

very interesting, Hopkirk, you've changed my mind on this one. A lot of level crossings may not need lockable gates, but that one looks to have been a disaster waiting to happen. If the track owners just can't get round to fitting them, as seems to have happened there, then requiring them on all crossings, tomorrow, may be the only way of getting it done.

[cecil39]

your answers are all very interesting, thank you, I do agree that some crossings need added safety measures, for the benifit of less able folk, but for someone to approach a rail crossing with loud music screaming in their ears should know better, and they can surely still see, unless, as some of you have pointed out,they don't want to. The unfortunate train driver can see someone on the line and knows he can't stop in time, a nightmare for him.