Network Rail have no right to lecture

NETWORK Rail is being more than a little disingenuous by demanding that the driving test should include compulsory questions on level crossings. Its chief executive, Iain Coucher, advocates the measure, claiming that 95% of the 3,400 accidents or near misses last year were caused by mistakes by either pedestrians or motorists. Using Mr Coucher’s own statistics, it would appear that some 17 incidents in 2009 were nothing at all to do with pedestrians or motorists. What he did not volunteer was how many of these incidents were caused by the inherent danger of open level crossings, of which the north of Scotland has more than 20. Network Rail has been under constant pressure to instal barriers at open crossings, but is balking at the cost, which it estimates at £1million each. It is all very well for the company to suggest that the driving test should include questions on level crossing safety, but its concern for the wellbeing of the travelling public would appear considerably more meritorious were it first to put its own house in order. Only when it has completed the installation of barriers at all open crossings does Network Rail have the right to lecture the rest of us on safety.