It’s Groundhog Day!
Not literally because that is not until Tuesday 2 February but metaphorically in the sense of “events that have happened before happen again, in what seems to be exactly the same way”.
When I started writing this blog, I intended it to be a record of some of the exciting train journeys I planned to take. When Covid struck, I refocused the writing on other aspects of my life such as media promotion and publicity.
For the last couple of months, I’ve been outlining my experience of compliance – or lack of it – with the rules on wearing face coverings on public transport and also about the dangers of people going near railway tracks.
In the last few days, two further cases have emerged which go to show that the rules are still being flouted and people are still using the lines for ridiculous photo opportunities.
Close to home in Sussex, a woman has been captured on CCTV camera lying on the level crossing at Tidemills seemingly posing for a photograph.
If you thought this was a one-off, you’d be wrong.
According to Network Rail, this is the 17th – yes, 17th – recorded incident on this crossing in East Sussex in the last nine months.
“No photo opportunity is worth risking your life for”
British Transport Police
No wonder British Transport Police inspector Jonathan Pine called the action of the two women “unthinkably stupid”.
He added: “No photo opportunity is worth risking your life for.”
Perhaps that should be the slogan for the BTP‘s next public awareness campaign. I’d certainly support it.
And on face coverings, there is welcome news that Transport for London has increased the number of enforcement officers it is deploying to tackle those who refuse to wear face coverings on public transport.
TfL says it issued 1,700 fines to travellers in breach of the face covering rules between June and December last year. The fines started at £200 and then doubled.
“A selfish minority who are not exempt are continuing to ignore the regulation and putting themselves and their fellow passengers at risk”
Transport for London
More enforcement officers completed their training last month and are now providing greater visibility and reassurance to those travelling on public transport.
TfL said: “Figures show strong public support for the use of face coverings on the network and around 90 per cent compliance at the busiest times of the day, with only a selfish minority who are not exempt continuing to ignore the regulation and putting themselves and their fellow passengers at risk.”
I feel this is the right approach: having more people at the stations results in more action: handing out fines and prosecuting non-payers.
Please everyone: follow the rules. It’s for your safety and that of everyone else.