VIDEO: What a plonker! ‘Del Boy’ reliant robin risks lives at level crossing and causes thousands of pounds worth of damage

This is the moment a yellow van flies through a level crossing before crashing through the barriers backwards, putting both the van driver and passenger’s life in danger and risking the safety of those on board oncoming trains.

With level crossings throughout Lincolnshire and with several high profile accidents at level crossings in the last two years, British Transport Police is again asking motorists to take heed of ‘Operation Look’.

Inspector Becky Warren said: “All too often people get into the habit of taking risks at crossings. Our message is simple – use crossings safely.

“It may be tempting to jump a light to shave a minute or two off your journey, but every time you do, you endanger your life and the lives of other road and rail users.

“Fail to obey the signals and you may also end up with a driving ban or a criminal record. Is it really worth the risk?”

Darren Furness, head of level crossings for Network Rail said: “Level crossings create a risk for people that we want to remove. Where possible we close them, and we have already closed more than 900 in the past five years.

“Those we cannot close we aim to make safer and awareness events like these mean we can meet and talk to motorists, cyclists and pedestrians about the dangers and how to stay safe.”

British Transport Police (BTP) is calling for help from the public to identify the driver of the yellow Robin Reliant who risked their lives, and the lives of others, by driving through level crossing barriers and onto the railway line.

Officers have today released CCTV footage of the incident, which took place shortly before 12.30am on Sunday, June 21 at Pinxton Level Crossing in Pinxton in Nottinghamshire.

Inspector Anton Menzies said: “The car drove across the crossing then for some reason reversed back onto the tracks striking the crossing barrier as it was coming down.

“The car then reverses into the opposite barrier before coming to standstill on the tracks.

“A member of the public then lifts the barrier to allow the car to drive out.

“We have launched an investigation into this incident and are now working to identify the driver of this distinctive vehicle. I am certain that someone will recognise it, and know its driver and I would ask them to come forward.

“Both barriers were extensively damaged as a result of the incident, with costs to fix them estimated at somewhere in the region of between £6,000 and £15,000.

“However more importantly this was extremely dangerous behaviour that put the driver and the passengers in the vehicle lives at risk. They were very lucky that a train was not coming through at the time or the consequences would be unthinkable”.

Liz Pearson, community safety manager for Network Rail said: “This mindless act at Pinxton level crossing has caused damage to the railway, something which ultimately costs train passengers, and was also incredibly dangerous. The outcome here could have been very different if a train had been approaching and I echo Inspector Menzies’s call for anyone who knows the driver of this vehicle to come forward.”

Anyone with information should contact British Transport Police on 0800 40 50 40 or text 61016 quoting background reference MSUB/B14 of 23/7/2015. Information can also be passed to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.