UK move to improve rail crossing safety

A new move by the UK Government is intended to improve safety at rail crossings following a number of fatal crashes. The Transport Select Committee will hold an inquiry into the safety of the UK’s 8,000 level crossings. This move has been welcomed by the Parliamentary Advisory Council for Transport Safety (PACTS), which earlier called for the review. This move was one of seven recommendations among 113 put to the Transport Select Committee to be taken forward for its programme of activity into 2014. David D
June 25, 2013 Read time: 2 mins
A new move by the UK Government is intended to improve safety at rail crossings following a number of fatal crashes. The Transport Select Committee will hold an inquiry into the safety of the UK’s 8,000 level crossings. This move has been welcomed by the Parliamentary Advisory Council for Transport Safety (3446 PACTS), which earlier called for the review. This move was one of seven recommendations among 113 put to the Transport Select Committee to be taken forward for its programme of activity into 2014. David Davies, executive director of PACTS said, “PACTS is very pleased that the Transport Select Committee has taken up our suggestion to hold an inquiry to safety at level crossings. This will put the parliamentary spotlight on one of most critical areas of rail safety. PACTS will do all it can to support the Committee in this important inquiry.”

David Morris, former deputy chief inspector of railways and chair of the PACTS Rail Safety Working Party said, “Level crossings represent the largest single risk of catastrophic train accidents on Britain's rail network. In 2012, six people died at level crossing accidents (three in motor vehicles and three pedestrians).

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