Courts were urged today to pass tougher sentences on motorists who jump lights and dodge barriers at level crossings in Britain, after the number of such incidents reached a five-year high.

Judges and magistrates should “stamp down” hard on motorists too impatient to obey warnings at rail crossings, Network Rail said, as it revealed that more than 3,400 incidents were recorded last year, causing 15 deaths.

On average, more than three motorists a week were involved in a near-miss because they ignored warning signs and lights or wove round barriers. There were 20 collisions between trains and vehicles.

Pedestrians were also putting themselves at risk, with more than five a week involved in near-misses, Network Rail said. It released dramatic video footage of a man vaulting over a level crossing barrier and sauntering across the rails, only for a train to arrive at high speed and catch his foot, sending his shoe spinning into the air.

The problem caused more than 55 days of delays to trains and passengers and cost the company around £1.8 million last year, not counting damage to trains or tracks or staffing time and cost.

Iain Coucher, the chief executive of Network Rail, said: “The toughest consequence of breaking the law at a level crossing is to lose your life – thankfully that doesn’t happen very often.

“But every week we see people who ignore warning signs and lights or drive round barriers at level crossings just to save a few minutes. This behaviour has the potential for massive damage, disruption and death.

“We think that the judiciary penalties received need to reflect the seriousness of these crimes, and are calling on the judiciary to consider all these factors when handing down sentences.”

A TV and radio advertising campaign warning of the dangers of level crossing misuse which the company launched in November is running across Britain again this month.

Mr Coucher added: “We hope that increased awareness of the dangers of taking risks at level crossings, coupled with tough sentences for those caught breaking the law, will act as a deterrent and help bring down the number of offences and ultimately save lives.”

Two days ago an elderly man died after being struck by a southbound passenger train at a level crossing near Pitlochry in Perthshire at around midday.

Bob Crow, general secretary of the Rail Maritime and Transport union, said: “Level crossings are a 19th century solution that should have no place on a 21st century railway, and year on year there are too many unnecessary deaths and serious injuries.

“Network Rail should commit itself to a 10-year programme of eliminating crossings, replacing them with bridges or underpasses so that trains no longer have to mix with road traffic or pedestrians.”

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