Remember the level crossing posts?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/5244038.stm

 

I suggest an automatic bollard system. If you drive around the barrier
it blocks you in until the train hits you.

 

I don't see why they can't install the missing barriers if wankers are
going to take the piss. The half barrier crossing was always dependent
on most (all) drivers being sensible; now it's been shown there's a
significant % of utter fucking idiots out there it's time to complete
the cheap and shoddy job that was done.

 

Unfortunately, full barriers require different timings to half barrier as
they take longer to operate and need to start closing earlier before the
train arrives as there is no escape for a car if it's trapped so it needs
manual checking.

For example: Beddingham AHB if it were converted to CCTV full barrier it
would close the A27 for 40 minutes out of every hour. So isn't really an
option.

Separation of road and rail is the ideal, albeit expensive, solution.

 

Darwin in action, then.

Taking an individual lane: If the incoming barrier closed before the
exit barrier to allow egress and if as well as CCTV there was a detector
system in place that would interlock with a signal up line to slow or
halt the oncoming train.

As well as that; any **** stopped on the yellow hatches or found doing
any weaving between barriers would be utterly castrated by the courts.

 

Any signalling system to protect the crossing will need to be operative at
least two miles in advance of the crossing - dependant on line speed.

Hence:

"full barriers require different timings to half barrier as
they take longer to operate and need to start closing earlier before the
train arrives as there is no escape for a car if it's trapped so it needs
manual checking."

 

If it were that simple. The fuckers risk the lives of others as well as
their own.

 

Meant to add: it does that now.

 

Ok, fair enough. That leaves wilful stupidity/recklessness as the main
causes.

I encountered a level-crossing survey team the other day in the
boondocks. Just a single track manned country crossing where they were
asking drivers about convenience, regularity of use, etc. It's one I use
about twice a week and I'm surprised it hasn't been automated by now -
although maybe that's on the cards. There's a lot of manned crossings in
RoI and it probably costs a fair bit - but the accident rate on them is
tiny.