Crossings crackdown
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by Juliet Parish • Truck drivers could be subjected to hidden surveillance checks at level crossings throughout the UK following a nine-week experiment in the North.
On Monday (27 June) undercover patrols from the British Transport Police started monitoring nearly 30 problem crossings in Yorkshire, Humberside and the North-East.
They are using concealed cameras to record any driver ignoring the crossing's warning system, an offence which brings a maximum £1,000 penalty.
The North-East division of rail management firm Railtrack set up Operation Zebra after a similar campaign last year found that more than 55 com mercial vehicle drivers ignored level crossing safety rules. More than 500 other roadusers were also put forward for prosecution after the three months of checks.
One of the most disturbing cases recorded during last year's campaign was a driver of a bus carrying 40 passengers who ignored a level crossing's flashing red lights and accelerated to beat the barriers.
The driver was later fined, lost his licence and his job.
Other roadusers were recorded overtaking on crossings; ignoring amber and red warning lights; and, on rural crossings, driving on to the crossing before opening the far gate.