Driver fined for playing chicken

11 March 2010

A man caught playing chicken with a train at a railway crossing has avoided a driving ban.

Magistrates in Newcastle heard how motorist Douglas Hall jumped a red light at Metro light railway crossing in Callerton.

CCTV footage showed his Audi TT convertible narrowly missed an oncoming train in the incident which took place last May.

The court heard that as a result of Hall's actions, the Metro driver was forced to make an emergency stop.

Hall was given nine penalty points on his licence and a £400 fine. He was also ordered to pay costs.

Jeremy Forsberg, from the Northumbria Safer Roads Initiative, said: "It is unbelievable that someone would take such a stupid and dangerous risk.

"This was a seriously misjudged manoeuvre and lacks any consideration for anyone else.

"The driver showed such a disregard for not only his own safety but also the safety of the train operator and the scores of passengers expecting a safer journey on the Metro.

"A car isn't going to win against a train, but there will certainly be a lot of people on board who will get hurt."

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