A man who failed to obey the correct procedure when driving over a level crossing in his truck, has been handed a fine.
Steven Morris, aged 27 and of Fell Brow, Longridge, appeared before West Yorkshire Magistrates’ court on 1 October. He was ordered to pay a £415 fine, victim surcharge of £41 and costs totalling £85.
On Monday 5 March this year at approximately 10.11am, Morris drove his vehicle across Green Lane level crossing near Knaresborough station, failing to contact the signaller using a dedicated phone adjacent to the crossing.
The defendant’s dash-cam captures the moment he left his car to read the safety instructions on the crossing, before ignoring them and driving over the crossing.
As he attempts to cross the tracks, Morris’s vehicle is then narrowly missed by a Northern train travelling at 65mph.
At court, Morris admitted a charge of endangering safety on the railway.
PC Dave Knox from BTP, said:
Morris’s dangerous actions could have had fatal consequences, he was extremely lucky that his car wasn’t struck by the Northern service. If it had, I am confident he would have lost his life.
People who misuse level crossings fail to realise the consequence of their actions, and that we will actively investigate and bring offenders before the courts. Please never take the risk, the warning signs are there for a reason.
