IT'S a You've Been Framed moment that could not have been staged any better.
Just as Network Rail's Vicki Beadle was explaining a level crossing safety campaign, the alarm started and a silver car went through regardless.
The moment, captured in a video on the Mail's website, illustrates just why public awareness has to be altered.
Police and rail bosses know the crossing at Beverley railway station is notorious for people jumping the red light.
So-called "red runners" put their lives in danger trying to dash across when the warning lights say a train is coming.
Mrs Beadle, Network Rail community safety manager, said: "This is one of the problem crossings but it's happening on all the crossings in Beverley.
"When the lights start, some people think they can still drive through. The whole aim of this is we hope people will abide by the rules."
It is an uphill battle, not helped by crossing faults delaying motorists unnecessarily.
On Monday, teatime drivers in Norwood, Beverley, were left confused when the crossing barriers began going up and down erratically and the lights flashed on and off.
The problem was caused by an electrical contact and the crossi- ng had to be temporarily closed.
A Network Rail spokesman said: "There was a fault with the barrier at 4.40pm and the signaller couldn't be sure the barriers were down.
"In that circumstance, they keep the barrier down."
The electrical problem was fixed two hours later.
The spokesman said: "In the meantime, one of our staff went to operate the crossing so they could be sure it was operating properly.
"We apologise for the inconvenience but the barrier is there to keep everyone safe."
Martin Gallagher, head of level crossings at Network Rail, said: "Where a road or footpath meets the railway, there will always be a risk – tragically, for a few people every year, this results in injury or loss of life.
"The surest way to reduce risk at a level crossing is to close it and, under our current safety programme, we have successfully closed more than 700 in the past three years."
In the past year, nine people have been killed on UK crossings and 453 people involved in a near miss.
That is why Network Rail and British Transport Police do public awareness campaigns.
And why the driver of the silver hatchback is being prosecuted for the offence of failure to conform at a level crossing.
Chief Inspector Derek O'mara, of British Transport Police, said: "This incident clearly illustrates why we are here today."
