Safe Speed Forums

Often I read a story and they say he was lucky to be alive... however this lad... http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/ ... _shock_boy

I am a little sceptical at the blame being aimed at his steel toe boots though!
Don't these papers print some C**P

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Speed limit sign radio interview. TV Snap Unhappy
“It has never been the rule in this country – I hope it never will be - that suspected criminal offences must automatically be the subject of prosecution” He added that there should be a prosecution: “wherever it appears that the offence or the circumstances of its commission is or are of such a character that a prosecution in respect thereof is required in the public interest”
This approach has been endorsed by Attorney General ever since 1951. CPS Code

It could be that the presence of metal in the least-resistive path to ground allowed the current to arc, but it would have had to be pretty close to arcing anyway, and "attracted to metal" is just twaddle.

I'm presuming that he was on the ledge of the bridge, with the overhead cables running below his feet, though I can't picture where the ball would have ended up. If the shock came from below then its no great wonder that he survived, since the charge would not have passed across his heart.

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Regulation without education merely creates more criminals.

Those voltages do look wrong. Only 200,000 volts on overhead wires but 750,000 volts right next to the ground? Yeah right. Also, why have both overhead wires and a live rail? When they said "live railway" they probably meant that there were still trains using it.

Photos would be useful.

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Andrew.

There would be an awful lot of dead electricians if steel toe capped boots attracted electricity. Since safety shoes are required on just about every site these days, I think someone would have spotted a trend by now...

Mmm, more like 25kV AC for catenary and 750V DC for 3rd rail... Not sure if this particular stretch of track is dual-voltage (and given the quality of the reporting, I suspect not), but around London there are a few stretches where 3rd rail and catenary co-exist to allow use by both local, predominantly DC-powered, services and inter-city AC-powered services.

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Chris

25kv ,OHLE ( and there's boosting going on in some sections),but more like 600-650 on 3rd rail , and don't forget 4th rail too- to be taken as live at all times .Standard industry safety distance in all weathers is 9 ft(for OHLE).

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lets bring sanity back to speed limits.
Drivers are like donkeys -they respond best to a carrot, not a stick .Road safety experts are like Asses - best kept covered up ,or sat on