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Driver fined for jumping the stop lights at East Farleigh level crossing

A motorist caught on camera driving past stop signals and over a railway level-crossing has admitted the offence - but insists he was not deliberately trying to jump the lights.

Steve McCormick, of Tonbridge Road, Maidstone, told magistrates: "I haven't really got an excuse, but I didn't intentionally race through or anything like that."

Steve McCormick - drove through flashing red lights at rail level crossing
Steve McCormick - drove through flashing red lights at rail level crossing

McCormick said that as he came down Farleigh Hill from Tonbridge Road towards the crossing that is just before East Farleigh Bridge he saw the red lights flashing and his first instinct was to brake.

But he said: "Then I saw the barriers were upright and they juddered and stopped. I thought they had just re-opened so I let my foot off the brake and rolled through."

McCormick, 29, said he had been helping his mother to move house that day and she was in a different vehicle several cars ahead of the Mercedes he was driving.

He said: "I know that crossing very well - I go across it two or three times a day."

The incident occurred in August last year, but the magistrates court had four times postponed his scheduled appearance, for which the chairman of the bench Nikki Brauer apologised, saying: "I realise these delays were not your fault."

McCormick appeared without the assistance of a defence solicitor.

Driver Steve McCormick used a crutch at court after recent keyhole surgery to his knee
Driver Steve McCormick used a crutch at court after recent keyhole surgery to his knee

He later explained, saying: "When you've done it and you know you have, having a solicitor sitting next to you isn't going to help."

Mrs Brauer gave McCormick full credit for his early confession, and fined him £200, with £85 costs and £30 victim surcharge. He also had three penalty points added to his licence, which already carries three points for a previous speeding offence.

Outside the court, McCormick confessed he felt lucky not to have had his licence taken away.

He makes his living from buying, selling and repairing cars. He said: "If they had done that, I would have been in deep trouble."

Mr McCormick came into court hobbling on a single crutch. Afterwards he explained that he had recently had keyhole surgery on his knee.

He said: "Until the operation I had pain in my leg for a long time after an accident when I was decorating.

"In fact, I do wonder whether that might have played a part.

"My knee was hurting even then and maybe subconsciously I favoured my leg in not wanting to jam down too hard on the brakes."

Although, he readily admits the offence, he still says at the time he went over with a clear conscience.

He said: "I thought by the way they juddered to a halt, the barriers had just opened. It was only as I went across and saw them come down behind me that I thought: 'Damn, I shouldn't have done that!'"

Signalman Doug Caddell in hospital in 2015 after being struck by a driver jumping the lights at East Farleigh crossing
Signalman Doug Caddell in hospital in 2015 after being struck by a driver jumping the lights at East Farleigh crossing

Only three days before Mr McCormick's case, Network Rail issued figures showing that 13 drivers had run the lights at the East Farleigh crossing in the past two months.

The rail company is particularly concerned about safety at East Farleigh after an incident in 2015, when the gates were still being closed manually. A signalman named Doug Caddell was in the act of closing the gates when he was struck by a car and had his neck broken.

A new automated system of flashing lights and full barriers was installed in March last year.

Network Rail’s route director for Kent, Fiona Taylor, said: “I can’t believe I’ve got to say this, but the flashing red lights are there for a reason.

"There’s no excuse for not paying attention to them and the fact that some drivers are even swerving round closing barriers, when a train is on its way, is just astonishing."

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