This shocking video shows the moments drivers and pedestrians put many lives at risk by failing to stop at level crossings.
The frightening scenes, which were shared by Irish Rail, show times people cause serious damage to crossing gates or end up trapped along the line as a train is about to travel by.
Footage shows close calls at many Dublin crossings including Sutton, Serpentine Avenue and Coolmine.
Moments include a driver getting stuck in between both sides of the crossing and cutting onto the other lane to avoid disaster and a pedestrian getting hit by the level crossing gates as their pet dog frantically looks on with worry.
Irish Rail have said that in 2020 there were 60 such incidents at level crossings and are urging the public to be extra careful at level crossings especially as traffic levels return to normal.
So far in 2021 there have been 31 such incidents, with Irish Rail describing some of them as "very worrying".
There have been no fatalities at Irish level crossings since 2010 but such incidents in Europe account for 31% of all rail crossing deaths in the world.
Jim Meade, Chief Executive of Iarnród Éireann said: “The number of incidents at level crossings is still too high. In recent months, we have had a number of very worrying incidents and level crossings and we would appeal to all road users to obey the rules of the roads at level crossings. They are for everyone’s safety.”
Sam Waide, Chief Executive of the Road Safety Authority said: “The purpose of an awareness day for safety at level crossings is to make all road users aware of the real dangers posed due to carelessness at railway level crossings, especially when using unattended Railway Level Crossings. There really is no room for complacency when it comes to level crossings, because if you take risks at level crossings you are gambling with your own life and the lives of others.”
