LAST UPDATE | 9 Jun

IRISH RAIL HAS appealed for renewed vigilance from the public at level crossings after 31 incidents so far this year.

These incidents, where barriers strike people or vehicles, are the result of misuse of the automated level crossings, it said.

Of the 31 recorded, 11 have resulted to injury in the person crossing or damage to the crossing.

Irish Rail said there incidents are caused by pedestrians, cyclists and drivers who choose to continue through the crossings when warning lights begin to flash. Some of the vehicles involved in these incidents include commercial vehicles and buses.

This year saw the beginning of garda cameras being installed at key level crossing locations that can issue automatic fines and penalty points, it said.

The cameras will record motorists using the crossing and will automatically issue a fine of €160 in respect of speeding, or €80 in respect of breaking a red light, and are liable for three penalty points for either.

“The cameras will enhance safety for rail and road users alike, including pedestrians and cyclists, by deterring risk-taking at chosen locations,” a spokesperson for Irish Rail said.

The crossing that accounts for 11 of these incidents is Lansdowne XR001 in Dublin, where the Dart runs through. Nearby, a crossing at Serpentine accounted for five incidents.

Lansdowne is followed by a crossing in Bray, Co Wicklow, where six of the incidents occurred.

Irish Rail has partnered up with gardaí and the Road Safety Authority for International Level Crossing Awareness Day, to raise awareness of the dangers of trying to get through a level crossing before the barriers close.

There are currently 848 level crossings on the Irish Rail network, which are a combination of automated CCTV crossings, manned crossings and unmanned user operated accommodation crossings.

Irish Rail is working to close as many of these crossings as possible, with 150 shut since 2014. Six have been closed this year.