One of my pet hates is sitting at a level crossing waiting while 3 or four trains cross back and forth. The reason they do this apparently is that lifting and dropping the gates in quick succession is too much of a risk – due to people (muppets) taking chances.

According to a program on TV now though (well it’s just finished) crossings are so dangerous that the gate down time should be considerably longer – just in case.

Is this feasible?

Leave them open, fewer idiots alive will follow.

We used to have loads of “manual” crossings near us (lights but no barriers) and NOBODY got killed. If you’re in so much of a hurry to get to a meeting/shop/pub/whatever that you take the risk of a huge metal object obliterating you, you’re fair game.

Occasional accidents happen (that woman who hit a patch of ice for example), most deaths are caused by reckless behaviour.

A woman in Newcastle a few weeks ago turned onto the tracks, and drove along the f’ing railway lines for 1/4mile!!!