Police warn against "staggeringly stupid" TikTok stunt
Police have issued a warning following the spread of a video on TikTok which shows a car parked on a railway crossing "to get the shot no one else would." Urging people not to follow in the footsteps of the irresponsible stunt, Inspector Becky Warren, from British Transport Police, said: "No picture or video is worth risking your life for."
The TikTok clip was reported to British Transport Police by Network Rail, which has labelled the video "staggeringly stupid and dangerous." Level crossings are in place to allow cars to cross a railway line when there is not a train passing; it is never advisable to stop for any length of time while driving across one, because of the speed at which trains travel.
Police Inspector Warren's statement continued: "There is simply no excuse for not following safety procedures at level crossings. The behaviour shown by the individuals in this video is incredibly dangerous and reckless.
"We have seen first-hand what the consequences are of deliberately misusing level crossings, and we remind anyone using them to be responsible when doing so."
She reminded the public in her statement that anyone caught committing any offences on or near level crossings will be prosecuted. Trespass on the railway is punishable with a fine of up to £1,000 fine, while train obstruction could lead to up to two years in prison.
The TikTok was reportedly filmed at a railway crossing in Bolton, Bromley Cross, and the official Manchester Picadilly Twitter account tweeted to draw attention to how unthinkably dangerous the stunt was.
"We’re working with @BTP to investigate this staggeringly stupid and dangerous TikTok video filmed on a level crossing in Bolton," read the tweet. "Never trespass onto the tracks - it’s against the law and puts lives at risk."
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