British Transport Police urge patience at level crossing

Motorists and pedestrians have been urged to stay safe at a “problematic” Angus level crossing.

Officers from the Dundee division of British Transport Police (BTP) held an awareness day at what they said was the area’s most dangerous level crossing – Station Road, Carnoustie.

BTP officers have been called to the crossing 31 times in the last year over incidents such as near misses and cars failing to obey signals.

PC Mohammed Lunat said the purpose of the spot checks was to educate drivers about the risks of ignoring warnings.

He said: “We regularly get reports of people crossing illegally, getting stuck in the box junction or climbing over the barriers. Some people have even got their cars stuck under barriers, damaging both the barriers and their vehicles.

“We’re trying our best to talk to people rather than having to prosecute them.

“High-speed trains pass through here at 100mph. You can imagine the kind of carnage that could cause if you cross illegally.

PC Lunat said Carnoustie was one of the region’s more notorious sites due to its average waiting time of five minutes when a train is passing.

He said: “There are some level crossings that are down for only 12 to 15 seconds in Dundee.

“You don’t know how long the barrier is down for and it’s not worth taking the risk.”

PC Connor Phillips said level crossings are busiest between lunchtime and evenings during the week.

“Our beat is from Dundee up to Montrose, and Carnoustie is definitely the most problematic crossing in our area,” he said.