Level Crossing Campaign:
Network Members Respond
Harriet's Response
I have received mixed reviews of the TV ads. Some feel they are effective, others less so. In fact the TV news coverage of the campaign has carried more images likely to disturb people, especially if taken unawares. Harriet sent this report of the Channel 4 News item - they interviewed the father of a girl killed while crossing a level crossing rather than a UN survivor.
I watched it and they used the father of one of the girls. He looked distraught and I don't think the interviewer seemed very sympathetic. I saw the advert on the news and I really think it's great that the campaign is being run. As I watched it I didn't feel scared or panicky, but I felt as if the aftermath scene they showed was ours. It was powerful enough without having the shock-factor of the drink- driving adverts for example. I did feel quite emotional so I'm sure other people will feel the same.
The father of Charlotte Thompson who was killed as she crossed the line on foot made the point that this campaign is only aimed at drivers, which is helpful from our point of view but I guess not from his. However, as we know, our incident was no accident. While this will raise awareness of crossings, it won't stop the fact that perhaps the government needs to really restrict access to them, which was a point Mr Thompson made.
I hope this campaign will make us feel supported, particularly at a time when many people, including myself, are experiencing a dip in recovery, be it physical, psychological or both. However we might also bear in mind that it could be yet another way of 'reliving' experiences that we don't want to or aren't yet ready to, and try to prepare for this by getting support from as many people as we can.
A SURVIVOR'S VIEW of 'Don't Run the Risk' - the Network Rail Level Crossings Campaign
As a survivor of the Ufton Nervet crash I welcome the advance warning the
survivors network received from the rail industry. I don't yet know the
details of the content or how graphic it will be, but particularly with
moving images on TV I feel that forewarned is forearmed. The crash may have
happened 18 months ago but to those of us still dealing with the after
effects it is useful to be able to prepare for possible reactions, which can
creep up on you when you least expect them.
I welcome any campaign that makes people more aware of the potential danger
surrounding a level crossing. It is unthinkable to me that anyone would try
to 'beat the barrier' and if this campaign lessens the incidence of that
behaviour then so much the better. However I understand that this campaign
was not prompted by the crash at Ufton Nervet, and I am all too aware that
it may not have been prevented by such a campaign.
A Survivor from Newbury