Level crossing crash fine anger

A £40 fine imposed on a motorist who collided with a train on a level crossing has been criticised by a group representing a railway.

Eileen Lawrence, 72, drove onto the crossing in Fairbourne, Gwynedd, colliding with a train moving at 20mph.

She later admitted careless driving. No-one was injured in the incident.

But members at the Cambrian Coast railway conference in Porthmadog said the low fine issued was sending out the wrong message.

Ms Lawrence admitted careless driving and was fined £40 with three penalty points, with £80 costs and £15 victim surcharge by magistrates in Dolgellau in September.

She had claimed to have been distracted when she collided with the Machynlleth to Pwllheli bound train on 14 May.

I have to admit that the £40 fine imposed was lenient and did not reflect the effect on the train driver who needed time off work Pc Bob Newman

The court heard the red warning lights and the audible warning sounds were working correctly at the railway crossing, which does not have barriers.

British Transport Police officer Bob Newman told the conference that the normal fine for contravention of the red railway crossing lights was around £120.

"I have to admit that the £40 fine imposed was lenient and did not reflect the effect on the train driver, who needed time off work, or the inconvenience to the train passengers," he said adding that the motorist was very lucky that she was not seriously injured.

Conference chairman Councillor Trefor Roberts, Barmouth added: "Such a low fine is sending out the wrong message."

Ben Davies for Arriva Trains Wales said that he would be in favour of train operators and the British Transport Police holding talks with the North Wales magistrates court committees.

"Between January and August this year there were 40 near-miss incidents reported in Wales," said Mr Davies.

"The majority of them involved motorists who narrowly avoided a potential fatal collision with a train."

Pc Bob Newman said that since April there had been 15 incidents of vehicles using railway crossings when the lights were on red, which was a decrease of five from the summer of 2008.

Members have agreed to try to arrange a meeting with magistrates to complain about the fine.