A HARD-HITTING campaign to highlight the dangers of misusing level crossings is to be launched by Network Rail tomorrow.

More than a million households will be targeted with leaflets, which will run alongside television and radio advertisements in the biggest public safety campaign ever run by the rail industry.

The £3m campaign aims to put across the message that level crossings are safe if used correctly, but can be fatal if drivers ignore the signals.

The TV advertisement shows graphically the damage that a train does to a family car which has been struck at a crossing.

The campaign will target hot-spot areas - level crossings where incidents are higher than average. In the North, these include Allens West, which crosses Durham Lane, in Stockton, Tile Shed, near East Boldon, South Tyneside, and Bootham, in North Yorkshire, on the Scarborough to York line. All have had recent near-misses.

Although level crossing deaths in the UK are low by international standards, crossing misuse now represents the largest single risk of accidents involving trains.

John Armitt, Network Rail's chief executive, said: "Too many people die at level crossings every year. It is a senseless waste of life. Level crossings are safe if used correctly, but misuse them and your chance of surviving being hit by a train is virtually zero.

"The seriousness we attach to this campaign is indicated by the extensive investment. It aims to shake the complacency of level crossing users who endanger themselves and others. We are telling them not to run the risk."

The television and radio advertisements will be broadcast from tomorrow, followed by direct marketing and print and poster advertisements throughout the summer.

* A series of tragedies prompted the launch of The Northern Echo's No Messin' campaign to warn people about the dangers of railway lines.