Amendments to the Road Safety Bill are set to impact on making roads crossing over railway lines and approaching areas safer.
The road safety amendments, now accepted by Ministers in Parliament, will allow Network Rail to make recommendations for roads at level crossings.
At the moment, most local authorities have the choice as to whether recommended road improvements close to level crossings should be implemented.
According to Network Rail, most local authorities refuse the recommended road improvements. Commenting on this in 2005, Chris Rumfitt, Network Rail's Head of External Communications said:
“Unless they are compelled to they won't because they don't see the level crossings as their risk to manage."
The agreed amendment to the Road Safety Bill will provide Network Rail with a say in such areas as raised strips on level crossing approach roads and bollards to prevent cars from weaving around closing barriers. Central barriers and anti-skid surfaces will also be put in place.
Approximately 1,600 of the total of 8,000 level crossings on the British rail network are positioned on roads and as a consequence of the Government support of the new Road Safety Bill, Network Rail have agreed to a £10million per year cost towards such road-works.
The Railway Groups Level Crossings Performance Report for July 2005 can be accessed, in pdf format, by clicking the following:
RSSB Level Crossing Performance Report July 2005
Article by Alexandra Johnston
