That followed the collision of a car and a train at a barrier-free level crossing close to a major secondary school right in the heart of Dingwall.

Thankfully then, no one was seriously injured, although it was hard to shrug off the nagging feeling that we had been there before, and that the issue would once again quietly die down amidst sombre talk of risk assessments, safety campaigns and the production of statistics pointing to driver error being the major cause of accidents.

The issue hasn’t died down.

It has been thrust tragically back into the cold light of day following a horrific collision between a small car and a train at a barrier-free level crossing. Here, like several other crossings in Ross-shire, the only warning of an oncoming train given to road users is signage and a set of flashing lights close to the intersection of railway and road.

Heaven help the driver who is momentarily distracted, who simply fails to see the lights in the sun or who reckons they can make it across safely before a train comes.

A report on the latest tragedy will be sent for the consideration of the procurator fiscal, and it is right that the judicial system be allowed to deal with the matter in possession of all available evidence.

We said then and repeat now, it really doesn’t matter who is to blame. What does matter is that two young lives have been lost in a tragedy that could have been avoided. We argued then that a set-up where trains are able to hit cars as a result of human error — anyone’s error — is fatally flawed.

We now call for the introduction of automated barriers and improved warning systems at the Delny crossing and an immediate and radical overview of safety at other level crossings — including those in Dingwall. If automated barriers are deemed necessary there, so be it. And, crucially, the views and gut instincts of ordinary people who have for years lived in the areas concerned and use the crossings in question must weigh heavily in any decisions taken. This week’s announcement that Delny and Dingwall will feature in a safety review involving all interested parties is a welcome start.

This should be done not as a knee-jerk reaction or because there are local and national government elections looming.

It should be done because it’s the right thing to do.

Printer friendly version

Email this article to a friend

Bookmark this

---