To encourage drivers, motorcyclists and cyclists to adhere to traffic regulations near railway crossings, SJSC Latvijas dzelzceļš (LDz) has responded to the call by the European Commission and the International Union of Railways (UIC) and together with the State Police has carried out a social event to celebrate International Level Crossing Awareness Day.
On this day, representatives from LDz and the State Police visited the busiest level crossings of Riga and Daugavpils and encouraged drivers, motorcyclists, cyclists and pedestrians to adhere to traffic regulations while crossing the rail tracks and explained the possible consequences of not doing so.
In Latvia, like elsewhere in Europe, rail accidents most frequently occur on level crossings. In addition, in 99% of cases they are caused by the traffic participant and not a faulty barrier, traffic light or sound signal. People tend to be impatient and reckless and pass through the crossings when a train is approaching ignoring closed safety barriers and flashing alarms.
2013 statistics in Latvia
- there have been a total of 31 accidents on rail tracks;
- careless and reckless actions have resulted in 4 vehicle collisions with a train on a level crossing and 2 pedestrian collisions on pedestrian crossings;
- 17 people were killed, 5 of them on level crossings and pedestrian crossings;
- 10 people were injured.
In the first five months of 2014 there has been one vehicle collision with a train (the much-discussed incident in Stende) where three people were injured and two killed. Failure to observe the stop signal at a level crossing has also ended with casualties among pedestrians.
"We are all in a hurry sometimes, but it is everyone's own choice - to observe the stop signal at a level crossing or not to and subject one's own life and those of the passengers to serious risk. It is therefore important to make the right decision - observing the stop signal and making sure it is safe to continue only takes a moment, but can save a life," says Uģis Magonis, the President of SJSC Latvijas Dzelzceļš. "Pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists should equally pay attention to the warning signals while crossing the rail tracks because in a collision with a train the chance of survival is extremely minimal," Magonis adds.
The State Police will also pay additional attention to railway crossings in specially organised spot checks.
This May was child safety month for Latvijas dzelzceļš - at the end of the school term LDz organised more than 20 Safety Lessons in the Rail History Museum in Riga and several other cities where children were taught how to behave properly near trains through games and special animated films. LDz went to Gulbene, Krāslava, Daugavpils, Džūkste and a number of schools in Riga. Overall, several hundred children attended the lessons.
International Level Crossing Awareness Day is celebrated every year in the first week of June not only in Latvia, but in 41 other countries as well. For the sixth time running its organiser is the International Union of Railways (UIC) and this year's motto is: "The most important stop of the day".