Injury risk for young people using mobiles

YOUNG people are so distracted with using mobile phones that they are risking injury at level crossings or when getting off and on trains, according to new research.

Network Rail warned that almost one-third (29 per cent) of young adults in Greater Glasgow report a near-miss or accident when using their mobile phone around the transport network.

A further 41 per cent report using their phone when getting on or off a train and 38 per cent admit they use their mobile when crossing a road, in some cases at level crossings.

While Britain still has the safest rail network in Europe, level crossings are one of the biggest public safety risks on the railway.

In the past five years there have been more than 70 incidents on level crossings across Scotland involving pedestrians.

Mark Henderson, Network Rail senior community safety manager for Scotland, said: “Many people are aware of the issue of mobile phone distraction for drivers, but it is very worrying that so many young adults admit to putting themselves at unnecessary risk by using their phone when on the railway.

“We are investing more than £100 million to improve level-crossing safety across Britain, but we also need everyone who uses level crossings to do their bit too.”

Kevin Clinton, head of road safety at the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents, said: “As we advise drivers and pedestrians to avoid becoming distracted when they’re in a road environment, it’s essential that people are also fully aware of what’s happening around them when they use level crossings.”