Too long to wait at the crossing

Sir: I was interested to note the melodramatic impact (literally) Railtrack achieved when it demonstrated how horrific a collision between train and car can be at a railway crossing (photograph, 7 September). We all know who's likely to win such a contest.

Better, surely, to consider why a car driver in a hurry will risk all when the crossing barriers come down. It is partly Railtrack's or British Rail's fault because they insist on lowering the barriers for such a long time. I can sit in my car, fuming, at barriers on the Richmond line for minutes at a time before a train trundles past. Why be so ludicrously cautious?

When I was in France last month I watched a SNCF rail crossing in operation. The road barriers came down just 10 seconds before the train hurtled through and were up again three seconds later.

So, Railtrack, that's why you risk having impatient drivers challenge the road barriers - they don't believe a train's arrival is so imminent that they can't chance a charge round the barriers. Be realistic and the fatalities will drop.

Yours sincerely,

JOHN LILLEY

Kew, Surrey

7 September