Network Rail has released shocking CCTV footage of people misusing level crossings and narrowly avoiding major accidents.
A woman with a pushchair races across a level crossing narrowly avoiding being hit by an oncoming car. Another clip shows an impatient driver crossing the level crossing as the barriers go down only to reverse and slam into the closed barrier behind him.
Another man skips the barrier on foot to avoid waiting and his foot is hit by the speeding train, catching his shoe in the track.
There are over 7,000 level crossings in the UK and with trains travelling at up to 125mph it is unlikely someone will survive a collision. The turbulence created by trains can drag a person under their wheels if they are too close to the tracks.
Network Rail reported that in 2009/10, there were over 4,500 recorded incidents of pedestrians and motorists misusing level crossings, including over 400 ‘near misses’.
