AssetID: 54703491
Headline: RAW VIDEO: Shocking Footage Shows Careless Brits' Near Misses At Level Crossings
Caption: **VIDEO AVAILABLE: CONTACT INFO@COVERMG.COM TO RECEIVE** This shocking footage shows just some of the narrow misses individuals and families have had due to reckless behaviour at level crossings in the UK. The montage highlights the potential risks of losing focus near a railway line, from a teenager stood in the middle of a level crossing gazing at their mobile phone, to a pram-pushing couple failing to observe safety barrier alarms. The release of the video comes as new research commissioned by Network Rail reveals nearly half of people (47%) admit they’ve made a mistake, such as missing their train or locking themselves out of the house, while being distracted by their phone. The research also found a concerning lack of caution around level crossings, with over two fifths of people (41%) admitting they are more careful when crossing roads – even at zebra or traffic light crossings – compared to level crossings. Lucy Ruck was only 17 when she lost her leg in a railway incident at Farnborough North level crossing. Highlighting the importance of safety at level crossings to raise awareness and prevent similar accidents, she says: “The consequences of a split-second decision can be life-altering. I know this all too well from my own accident. I wasn’t being deliberately reckless or rushing, but perhaps because I used the station every day and knew it so well, I’d become a bit complacent. “I went with everyone else without stopping to think for myself. Remember, no appointment or destination is worth risking your life for. Always look carefully and never assume it’s safe to cross. It’s better to be late in this world, than early in the next.” Young people are among the most distracted with 87% of Gen Z and 70% of Millennials admitting these mistakes, compared to just 22% of Boomers. Mobile phones are a major cause of distractions, impacting young people the most. The data shows Gen Z are more likely than Boomers to have walked into something or someone (47% v 7%), walked in the wrong direction (39% v 5%), or dropped something (39% v 8%) whilst being distracted by their phone. In a world full of distractions, Network Rail is warning of the more serious consequences of being distracted at level crossings. Over the past four years, there have been 1,574 recorded near miss incidents involving pedestrians at level crossings. Over that same period, incidents have increased on average by 16% from April to May. There are 6,000 level crossings in operation across the country and every level crossing is different depending on the surroundings and its usage. Thomas Desmond, Operations Director at Network Rail, adds: "Level crossings demand your full attention, yet complacency and distraction are putting lives at risk, contributing to hundreds of dangerous near misses annually. Whether it’s glancing at a phone or simply assuming the track is clear, these lapses in concentration can be fatal. We urge everyone to stop, look, listen and obey the signals every single time. Waiting a few minutes is infinitely better than risking everything.”
Keywords: feature,video,photo,network rail,trains,level crossings,accidents
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