A new safety campaign from Network Rail is highlighting the dangers of misusing level crossings with 13 incidents recorded at Poole High Street in the last year.
Latest figures show there were 466 incidents of level crossing misuse and 28 near misses at level crossings across Network Rail’s Wessex route.
This represents a 24 per cent increase in the number of misuse incidents and a 13 per cent decrease in the number of near misses on the previous year.
Across the Wessex route, which includes Dorset, seven locations have been identified as hotspots including Poole.
Network Rail’s Community Safety Team is now launching Rail Safe Wessex.
Schools that work in partnership with the rail industry to promote rail safety and keep their students safe are awarded a plaque to display in their reception areas.
Network Rail has also launched its ‘Distracted? You’ve Crossed the Line’ safety campaign, including a hard-hitting video.
It aims to positively encourage young adults, aged 18 to 34, to take responsibility for their own personal safety and illustrate distractions such as taking selfies, listening to music or looking at a phone when using a level crossing.
Marcia Burnett, Network Rail’s Wessex route Community Safety Manager, said: “Throughout the school year we work incredibly hard to educate young people so they understand how they can keep themselves safe around the rail network.
“Since the school education programme began in 2018 we have spoken to over 125,000 young people across the Wessex route about rail safety.
“The aim of the programme is to ensure young people have the correct information about the rail network so that they can make the right choices and keep themselves safe, particularly over the school holidays when we see risk taking increase.”
Dan O’Riordan, South Western Railway’s Head of Security and Safety Assurance, said: “It is saddening to see that, over the last year, the number of incidents of people misusing level crossings has risen by nearly a quarter.
“Misusing level crossings is extremely dangerous, especially as most on our network have a third rail running through them carrying enough electricity to seriously injure, or worse.
“Our trains also pass through them at speeds of up to 100mph.
“We hope that this latest video, showing examples of where people have risked their own safety at level crossings, will encourage people to use them responsibly and recognise the dangers of the railway.”
A British Transport Police (BTP) spokesperson said: “Unfortunately we have seen too many times the tragic and life changing consequences of people ignoring the warnings of danger when being near the railway. Sadly some children think the rail tracks look like tempting places to play and don’t consider just how dangerous the tracks can be.
“BTP work with Network Rail to educate children and students at school of the dangers being near tracks and share some of the devastating real life stories from You vs Train such as Harrison’s story.
“Passengers and the public continue to be our eyes and ears and they can help us by reporting any concerns or incidents by texting us on 61016 or calling 0800 405040.”