Richard Yarrow’s opinion for www.startrescue.co.uk, providing low cost Vehicle Breakdown Insurance cover.
I’ve spent most of this week behind the wheel and witnessed the usual array of life on the road. I’ve seen people needing their car breakdown cover, the immediate aftermath of an accident, middle lane hogs and far too much tailgating. But one thing genuinely amazed me, something which I honestly thought had been consigned to the history books.
While driving on a country road close to Ashbourne, at the southern end of the Derbyshire Peak District, I approached a railway crossing. Stood behind one of the large wooden gates, carefully watching for a break in the traffic, was a man in a hi-vis vest. It was immediately obvious to me what was going on; he was manually closing the gates, to block off the road, because a train was coming. He was visible to me from some distance off and I must have watched him for a good 30 seconds, half on my way to him, half after I’d passed. The road was busy and I remember thinking I hope the train isn’t too close because he might be there a while waiting for his opportunity to close the road.
There’s lots of talk about high-speed rail links at the moment and I can see there’s probably some benefit to it. But, for crying out loud, let’s try to get the basics sorted first. It’s 2011 not 1911. Why on earth aren’t all level crossings automatic, the sort with amber then red lights, warning alarms and barriers that just come down irrespective of what traffic is in the way (pictured)? I was truly stunned that in this day and age there are still places where that doesn’t happen. Unbelievable.
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