Figures show 820 near-misses at crossings were reported, 291 of which were in 2011-12, in the past three financial years. Transport Safety Victoria figures show that in the three years to 2007, there had been a total of 309 near-misses. Have you seen a near-miss at a level crossing? Of the 820 close calls, 340 involved pedestrians and 480 motorists, many of whom drove around barriers, escaping disaster by a metre. Among incidents outlined in Freedom of Information documents: A TRUCK driver ran a stop sign at West Melbourne's South Dynon crossing last April, forcing a train driver to brake and sound his horn; the truckie made a "rude gesture" in response. A WOMAN pedestrian who "didn't want to be late for work" ignored bells, lights and gates at a Hoppers Crossing railway crossing in October, 2011; the train missed her by 3m. THREE children played chicken with trains in Corio at the St Georges Rd crossing. A VT Commodore that raced over a crossing at Chiltern was missed by two engine lengths; "the car then sped to the next crossing and repeated this stunt." Ticket inspectors issued almost five fines a day for level-crossing offences last year, and police at least one. The RACV, which has long campaigned for level-crossing removal, called for the four demerit points attached to the $704 fine for failing to stop or give way at a crossing to be increased to six. " (This would) deter people from taking silly risks that (endanger) their lives and the lives of so many others," RACV manager (roads and traffic) Dave Jones said. Naomi Frauenfelder, of rail industry group the TrackSafe Foundation, said Victoria had some of the heaviest police-issued fines in Australia for level-crossing offences. But she called for higher penalties for truck drivers. TSV acting director (rail safety) Andrew Doery said the statistics suggested drivers and pedestrians were becoming more impatient. "It is very dangerous," Mr Doery said. Pedestrians and motorists need to be vigilant ... and pay attention to the flashing lights, warning bells, boom gates at all times. Metro spokesman Daniel Hoare urged common sense. "No-one should ever cross a train line, either in a car or on foot, if the boom gates are down," he said. Police continue to investigate a Dandenong South smash that killed one person and injured 13 when a prime mover went through boom gates and collided with a Metro train in November. Between trains and vehicles: Carnegie 21 Chelsea 18 Noble Park 17 Dandenong 16 Rosedale 9 Between trains and people: St Albans 26 Hoppers Crossing 21 Springvale 15 Mitcham 12 Bentleigh 11