Level crossing risk overstated, says NR

摘要

In its report on safety at level crossings, the Commons Transport Committee criticised Network Rail's level crossing risk scoring system as being 'not readily understandable'. Quoting USE general guidance from 2001 which said that the fatality risk to a member of the public should not exceed 1 in 10 000 per year, the committee estimated that 'many hundreds of crossings' could exceed this limit and should be prioritised for improvement or closure. In its response, NR explains that the 1 in 10 000 risk, or 'tolerable limit', applies where the risk is 'imposed' on a member of the public. It cites the example of building a petrochemical plant near housing. In contrast, argues NR, the risk at level crossings 'is not imposed on an individual as the user can decide whether to cross or to use other routes'.