Presents a case study of successful application of technology to the rail sector. It summarises research on how technology can be used to further improve safety on the railway, whilst respecting costs, railway operations and practical constraints. It highlights how selecting the best technology itself may not be difficult, but successful application to the complex railway environment needs care and a broader understanding of safety and operational risk. The presentation places the risk at level crossings into context, before explaining the process for selecting the option to deliver safety improvement at reasonable cost. Finally, it introduces the pilot obstacle detection that network rail are carrying out with a view to widespread implementation.