Rail safety teams are to target level crossings across Kent this week after more than 20 near misses in the last 12 months.

They are to host awareness events to warn of the risk of serious injury or even death if walkers, bike riders or drivers ignore warning signs at level crossings.

It comes after 22 near misses, one vehicle damage and one injury after people misusing crossings in Kent between April 2012 and March 2013.

The figures have been published by Network Rail, which is one of 45 worldwide organisations supporting International Level Crossing Awareness Day today.

Safety teams will be at Simpsons level crossing, Sittingbourne; Marsh farm Road level crossing, Minster; and Tovil level crossing, Bower lane, Maidstone throughout this week.

They will be speaking to crossing users about the importance of using level crossings safely and the potential consequences of misusing crossings.

It comes after some serious incidents in the last year, including one where a man apparently jumped over a crossing in Gillingham just moments before a high speed train rushed past.

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.

"We want to reduce the chances of this happening as much as possible.

"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 600 nationally in the last three years.

“If we’re not able to close a crossing, we want to raise awareness of how to use crossings safely and the risks associated with getting distracted or ignoring warning signs."

Superintendent Jason Bunyard, from British Transport Police, who covers south London and the south east of England, said: “BTP works closely with all our rail industry partners and other police forces to educate users of level crossings as well as enforce road traffic legislation.

“International Level Crossing Awareness Day remains a key event in our calendar and BTP officers will be out and about at crossings around the country to promote that all-important safety message."