Signals passed at danger (SPADs)

A SPAD is when a train passes a stop signal without authority to do so.

While there are many SPADs each year, most of these have little or no potential to cause harm because they are the result of minor misjudgements of distance or of braking capability, or they occur at low speed. In most cases, the trains stop within the safety overlap provided at the signal. The overlap is a clear section of track beyond the signal, usually 200 yards long, which provides protection against relatively minor overruns. Generally, trains have to run past the signal safety overlap before there is any potential of collision or derailment.

SPADs are only one of the potential precursors to catastrophic accidents on the railway. Under 3% of all train collisions and derailments over the last 30 years have been directly caused by SPADs. The number of serious SPAD incidents has reduced by approximately 75% since 2001, whilst the risk arising from SPADs has reduced by 87% since March 2001.

The total number of SPADs in 2006 was 349, of which 134 were categorised as significant or severe.  This continues the downward trend in serious SPADs.

SPADs have always been of concern to the industry and to ORR; and we are continuing our efforts to reduce SPAD risk and numbers. There are many different ways of preventing SPADs or reducing their effects.