On the day that Network Rail called for a new statutory section on level crossings within the driving test, a Highland MSP has reminded the company that there is one part of Britain where the company has been reluctant to place barriers on crossings to help improve the safety of the public.

Dave Thompson, SNP, urged Network Rail to install barriers on the 21 open level crossings within his Highlands and Islands constituency. Although these make up just two per cent of the country's level crossings, they account for almost a third of all accidents.

Mr Thompson backed Network Rail's calls for improved driver behaviour at level crossings, he urged the company to accept it has a part to play in reducing the number of accidents through the installation of barriers at open crossings.

"Although rail safety is an issue reserved to Westminster, we at Holyrood are keen to do what we can to help Network Rail meet its responsibilities for ensuring the safety of its passengers, staff and road users at level crossings," Mr Thompson said.

"Education and enforcement is of course important to stop drivers putting their own lives and those of rail users at risk by ignoring signals to stop but often the low winter sun seen in the north of Scotland can obscure signals and vehicles can be driven across rail lines because the driver is ignorant of any warning.

"Sadly Network Rail seems to have an 'Anything But Barriers' view of what is needed to improve safety on our open crossings despite the regular occurrence of incidents on the 21 ungated crossings in the Highlands."

Notes:

In recent months Mr Thompson conducted a survey of 13,779 households throughout the Highlands on the issue of safety at open level crossings. 2,483 responses were received equalling an 18% response rate.

Of those who responded:

• 77% stated they do not feel safe using open level crossings
  
• 86% opted for installing barriers at open level crossings in order to adequately address public safety.
  
• A further 767 respondents shared personal stories of near misses or accidents, or stories of those they knew who had experienced a near miss or accident.

Last week Mr Thompson revealed new research which throws doubt on the company's claim that the installation of barriers at existing level crossings would cost on average £1 million each.

Concern over public safety at this type of Open Level Crossing was brought back into focus in September when three members of the same family were killed when their car collided with a train at an open level crossing in Halkirk, Caithness.

Donald MacKay (66), who lived at the Forse House nursing home in Latheron, his brother Angus MacKay (81) and sister-in-law Margaret MacKay, also 81, were killed in the collision.

Just before Christmas the same crossing was the subject of controversy when Caithness Landward councillor Willie Mackay complained that the red "stop" lights had displayed although no train was passing through the junction.