SPAD

A Class 387 at a red signal

A SPAD (abbreviated from Signal Passed At Danger) is highly discouraged and against the rules at SCR. Someone committing a SPAD is called a SPADer and the word that people use to talk about it is SPADing.

The Act

A SPAD is committed when someone crosses a RED signal, hence the name. SPADers tend to do this when they either are distracted or when they are going at full speed past a Yellow signal.

The Punishment

The game is coded to detect a SPAD and apply the offending train's emergency brake for twenty seconds. People who repeatedly SPAD can get banned for this action, as it is unsafe for the trains in front of the offending driver.

Signs of SPADing

The most telling signs if someone is going to SPAD is if they are:

1. Skipping stations
2. Going at max speed on a crowded line
3. In a Class 357 if on Connect (in most cases)
4. A guest or a Trainee Driver*
5. Not accepting the AWS horn
6. Going more than 45 MPH in a station

*That isn't always the case as Trainee Drivers might want to pass the QD training.

In Real Life

From Wikipeda:

Signal passed at danger in the United Kingdom; Terminology and procedures

Acronyms: SPADs and SPARs (A Seprate Category in Wikipedia)

Prior to December 2012, the term "SPAD" applied to all incidents where a signal was passed at danger without authority, and a letter was used to specify the principal cause.

Now the term SPAD is only used for what were previously category A SPADs and a new term, SPAR (Signal Passed at Red) is used to describe the former category B, C and D incidents.

There are a number of ways that a train can pass a signal at danger without authority, and in the UK these fall into four basic categories:

• A SPAD (previously Category A SPAD) is where the train proceeds beyond its authorised movement to an unauthorised movement.
• A Technical SPAR (Previously Category B SPAD) is where the signal reverted to danger in front of the train due to an equipment failure or signaller error and the train was unable to stop before passing the signal.
• A Signaller SPAR (Previously Category C SPAD) is where the signal was replaced to danger in front of the train by the signaller in accordance with the rules and regulations and the train was unable to stop before passing the signal.
• A Runaway SPAR (Previously Category D SPAD) is where an unattended train or vehicles not attached to a traction unit run away past a signal at danger.

Some SPADs can be defined as;

• SAS SPAD – "Starting against signal" SPAD, where the train was standing at a danger signal and the driver moved past it.
• SOY SPAD – "Starting on yellow" SPAD, where the train left on a caution signal and the driver did not appreciate that the next signal would be at danger.

Accidents and Incidents involving SPADs in real life

1987 Clapham Junction Collision

Hinton Train Collision

Ladbroke Grove Rail Crash

Chatsworth Train Collison

In Conclusion...

Do not SPAD. It will cause delays, you will be hated by the online Signaller and eventually, you will get ejected from your train by the game.