ProRail fines thousands for ignoring descending boom gates
ProRail is having success with its plan to equip dangerous level crossings with cameras. In the first six months of this offensive, the rail manager fined almost 6,400 road users for ignoring a descending boom gate. The number of fines is decreasing, showing that the cameras have a deterring effect, AD reports.
After two successful pilots, ProRail and the Public Prosecution Service (OM) installed the first camera at a dangerous rail crossing in Bunnik, near Utrecht, in February this year. By October, 12 crossings had cameras. ProRail plans to eventually have cameras installed at 40 level crossings.
Between February and October, ProRail fined 6,395 motorists, trucks, scooters, and speed pedelec drivers for not stopping when the boom gate comes down. The rail manager isn’t surprised by the high number of fines - it chose the crossings for a reason. “Unfortunately, many people do not adhere to the rules at level crossings, which is worrying,” ProRail spokesperson Mirjam de Witte told AD.
But there is good news, she added. The cameras seem to be preventing dangerous behavior. For example, in the first few weeks in Bunnik, ProRail issued 25 fines per week. That has dropped to around 10 fines per week. In Bussum, the number of fines dropped from 108 to 46 per week.
“We are seeing a change in behavior, and that is the purpose of the cameras,” De Witte said. “We do not care about the fines, but about safety at level crossings.”
Last year, there were 25 collisions at level crossings in the Netherlands. Six people died. Most accidents occur at unguarded level crossings. ProRail has been working for years to reduce the number of unguarded crossings, either by closing them or by putting up barrier protection.
