Another RHDR Accident

Christopher125 · Post by **Christopher125** » Sun Jul 10, 2005 9:25 pm

Hi

It seems that the locals around Romney Marsh are still taking no notice of the red lights - will they never learn? Another year, another accident, another fatality.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4670335.stm

Chris

basildd · Post by **basildd** » Sun Jul 10, 2005 9:29 pm

Whilst any death is tragic, I sincerely hope it was not the train driver this time, or one of the train passengers. It is highly unlikely that the train is at fault, given past experience.

skipperdipper · Post by **skipperdipper** » Sun Jul 10, 2005 9:45 pm

What an idiot, the car driver I mean.

Rob

nwallace · Post by **nwallace** » Sun Jul 10, 2005 10:05 pm

I have thought of an answer to Level Crossing issues

When the red lights are on the area ahead of the stopline for the width of the road should produce a spike strip.

No Ordinary spike strip however as it should produce spikes large enough to protude under the divers seat and give them a short sharp stab up the *******

Joking aside when will these car drivers learn?

trainmad · Post by **trainmad** » Sun Jul 10, 2005 10:44 pm

Something needs to be done about it! The number of incidents that have happened like this over the past couple of years is stupid.

And it doesn't involve putting barriers up at every single crossing either, these crossings are perfectly safe, it's just a stupid few who don't understand you have to STOP when the lights flash.

And, if in the end it comes to having to put barriers in, this needs to be payed for by the Government, not the RH&DR.

Of course, my condolences to the dead persons families, no matter who it is.

Paul

RobertM · Post by **RobertM** » Sun Jul 10, 2005 11:16 pm

It's a shame really

, I sincerly hoped that the accident last year would have made locals think about actually looking at the lights, instead of thinking that they can beet the train too the crossing.

Knowing inssurance companys due too my previous experience with them at the L&HR, the RH&DR will probally have to close down until they can get either some more insurance, or spending thousands on installing new crossings, which could push them into dept, which any heritage railway could do without

.

Anyway, I hope that the RH&DR will be alright and nothing happens like this next year

RobertM

Christopher125 · Post by **Christopher125** » Mon Jul 11, 2005 6:14 am

The woman driving the train was killed =

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4670335.stm

Chris

dinmore · Post by **dinmore** » Mon Jul 11, 2005 7:03 am

Terrible news

, sincere condolances to the poor ladys family, I hope the idiot that caused this accient gets more than a pathetic 12 month ban and 500 quid bloody fine like the last car driver did, can that sort of pathetic penalty really be justified for taking someones life?

jbilton · Post by **jbilton** » Mon Jul 11, 2005 7:41 am

dinmore wrote:Terrible news , sincere condolances to the poor ladys family, I hope the idiot that caused this accient gets more than a pathetic 12 month ban and 500 quid bloody fine like the last car driver did, can that sort of pathetic penalty really be justified for taking someones life?

Hi
Thats quite a stiff sentence actually.
However I cannot believe that these unmanned crossings are allowed to continue.
First rule of H&S if you can "engineer away the problem" etc
The most obvious one is to slow down at the crossings....an impact...even if it did still occur would be paint scratches.There are many others...clearing away vegetation from the crossing..etc
Perhaps if the railway owners were also fined last year...this death would not have occurred.
My condolences and sympathies go out to the drivers family and loved ones.
Cheers
Jon

arabiandisco · Post by **arabiandisco** » Mon Jul 11, 2005 8:29 am

Gating the crossings would be a solution (though not a complete one as the Ufton Nervet incident last year proves). However, open crossings are perfectly safe if road users use them correctly. These incidents are caused by road users, and if barriers need to be installed, then it should be at the Highways Agency's expense.

I fail to see how you can pin any blame on the railway for a road user jumping the lights.

Christopher125 · Post by **Christopher125** » Mon Jul 11, 2005 9:04 am

Hi

It appears this is one of the most open crossings on the line - how the driver didn't see the train I really don't know...

Chris

GavinW · Post by **GavinW** » Mon Jul 11, 2005 9:40 am

Hi
Thats quite a stiff sentence actually.
However I cannot believe that these unmanned crossings are allowed to continue.
First rule of H&S if you can "engineer away the problem" etc
The most obvious one is to slow down at the crossings....an impact...even if it did still occur would be paint scratches.There are many others...clearing away vegetation from the crossing..etc
Perhaps if the railway owners were also fined last year...this death would not have occurred.
My condolences and sympathies go out to the drivers family and loved ones.
Cheers
Jon[/quote]

"Stiff sentence"..........

"Perhaps if the railway owners were also fined last year...this death would not have occurred."

You really don't get it do you??

The railway was NOT at Fault last time so why should they be fined. This was (last time) death by dangerous driving and the fine was pathetic!

If the crossing was working OK then they should throw the book at the driver of the car. A woman is dead - perhaps becuase they couldn't wait a few minutes. I hope they have that on their conscience for the rest of their life.

(And before anyone flames or bans me - I have hit a van on an ungated crossing with a steam train I was driving and pushed it 200 yards along the line. The driver survived but lost an ear)

danielw2599 · Post by **danielw2599** » Mon Jul 11, 2005 10:24 am

Totaly agree with Gavin. At the end of the day if its proven that the car driver was at fault, then S/he should be charged with causing death by dangerous driving! at the very least carless driving!

Daniel

basildd · Post by **basildd** » Mon Jul 11, 2005 10:24 am

http://www.eastkentmercury.co.uk/news/d ... e_id=21279

No visibility problems here - wonder what other excuses will be dredged up....

jbilton · Post by **jbilton** » Mon Jul 11, 2005 12:28 pm

GavinW wrote:
You really don't get it do you??

The railway was NOT at Fault last time so why should they be fined. This was (last time) death by dangerous driving and the fine was pathetic!

Hi Gavin
I do "get it"...however my arguement stems from the fact that the railway concerned has had 2 fatal accidents in very similar circumstances, in a short period of time.Therefore it would be reasonable to argue they have done very little, if anything, since the last accident to ensure their drivers and more so their passengers safety.
It is a very sad, but fact of life that companies do very little to protect their employees until they are made to.That is why I said, if they had been heavily fined last time this accident would not have occurred.
To say the railway was/is not to blame is not a solution, nor a defence.
I do hope the train drivers family is well represented, as this clearly was a totally preventable accident.
Cheers
Jon