MORE rail crossings in the county could be fitted with cameras after a safety campaign caught more than two motorists a day risking their lives by running red lights.

More than 60 drivers ignoring warning lights and racing through a crossing ahead of approaching trains have been caught on camera during its first month in operation.

Even more motorists were spotted breaking the law in the month before, including a school minibus driver, but were spared a fine, penalty points or even a court appearance while the camera was in test mode.

British Transport Police and Network Rail both criticised foolhardy drivers who put their lives at risk to save a couple of minutes.

The cameras were installed at Yapton near Arundel after residents raised concerns about drivers’ behaviour at the busy crossing which has thousands of cars, using the road as a cut-through between the A259 and the A27, and more than 300 trains passing through each day.

The risk-taking driving has meant trains now drop their speed to 30mph over the crossing from 75mph on the surrounding railway.

More than 60 drivers have been caught in the first month after nearly 100 were caught but not prosecuted while the camera was in test mode the month before.

There are 24 rail crossings in Sussex but only four currently have cameras.

Network Rail are awaiting permission from the Office of Road and Rail to install more of the £150,000 cameras around the county.

The public body is also consulting on further safety improvements at Yapton and exploring options to change the level crossing from an automatic half-barrier system to a manual full-barrier system or change the road layout to move the nearby junction further away.

Paul Coleman, Network Rail’s head of level crossings in the South East, said: “These cameras were installed after concerns about drivers’ behaviour at the crossing.

“Although it’s early days yet, it’s good to see that we’ve seen a drop in the number of drivers risking their lives since the cameras were switched on earlier in the summer.

“Yapton level crossing works automatically, meaning trains set off the warning lights and the barrier sequence as they approach.

“That means there’s less than 30 seconds from the lights showing to a train passing over the road.

“Drivers who run the red lights or worse, swerve round the barriers, are risking their lives and those of our passengers.”

Network Rail said the money raised from any prosecutions did not come back to the railway, proving the installation of the cameras were motivated by safety and not profit.