This day is dedicated to help raise awareness of the critical risks at the road/rail interface faced by the rail community and to highlight the strategic initiative for a European Road/Rail Interface Strategy and associated Action Plan focussing on education and behaviour of users at level crossings.
Around 23 countries will be involved at different stages: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Slovenia, Slovak Republic, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and UK
Each year people die in accidents at level crossings: in 2006 this represented around 2% of the approximately 41 300 road deaths in Europe but at the same time around 30% of all rail accidents. 95% of these fatalities are caused by road vehicle drivers. However, society still regards these fatal accidents only as a rail problem. This is a significant risk area for the rail sector while seen as a small element for road safety; consequently the balance must be redressed by recognizing the bimodality of the issue.
Various initiatives have occurred over the past years to tackle this issue such as the DG TREN report of December 2003 “Safety at Level Crossings”, the 10th World Level Crossing Safety Symposium organised by the UIC in June 2008 as well as several national campaigns and days of action.
The focus today will be to link together a series of existing national events all on the same date, constructed around a common theme and branded in a unique way which would be held conjointly at various locations in every participating Member State. The key message to be delivered will be:
Stop accident! Europe for safer level crossings!
For more information on the European Road/Rail Awareness Campaign 2009 please contact the UIC at Daoud@uic.org
Also visit the Arrive Alive road safety website to find more information about: