Drivers in court over railway crossing failures

Five more drivers who ignored warning lights and drove across a notorious Shropshire level crossing as trains approached have been dealt with by the courts.

All five defendants pleaded guilty to single charges of failing to comply with red flashing light signals at Wem level crossing.

It comes after British Transport Police and Network Rail launched a major education campaign to teach drivers how to use the crossing safely after it emerged as the sixth most abused in Britain.

The cases were heard before Market Drayton magistrates yesterday.

The court heard Christopher Warner, 27, of Eckford Park, Wem, drove a Rover across the rails after the lights had started flashing on January 22.

Flashing

He told the court he thought it was safer to drive across the rails when the lights had just started flashing than to brake sharply, risking a collision from behind.

Magistrates fined him a total of £140 and endorsed his licence with three penalty points.

Four more cases were heard in the defendants' absence.

Ian Beaver, 33, of Station Road, Leebotwood, near Church Stretton, drove a Volkswagen Golf over the crossing on February 10. Magistrates fined him a total of £190 and put three penalty points on his licence.

Stephen Chesworth, 58, of High Street, Malpas, ignored the warning lights while driving a Volvo on January 28. He offered no mitigation and magistrates fined him a total of £190 and endorsed his licence with three points.

Close

John Williams, 50, of Orchard Way, Wem, drove a Vauxhall Astra over the tracks on February 12.

In a letter to the court he said there was a car driving very close behind him as he approached the crossing.

Magistrates handed him three penalty points and fines totalling £190.

Janet Evans, 62, of Aston Street, Wem, drove a Ford Transit van over the crossing on February 12.

She offered no mitigation and was fined a total of £190 and given three penalty points.

By Tom Johannsen