Trucks and tractors increasingly involved in collisions at level crossings, ProRail starts campaign | Domestic

While the number of collisions at level crossings has been decreasing for years, the number of collisions with commercial transport is not decreasing. A quarter of all collisions at level crossings that occurred over the past five years involved trucks, vans, tractors and taxi vans. Last year there was even a peak of 42 percent.

The consequences of every collision are major. A total of 75 collisions claimed the lives of six people in the past ten years. 50 victims were seriously and slightly injured. These collisions are the tip of the iceberg. Often things just go well, like last week, October 5 a truck came to a standstill at a railway crossing in Nuenen. The driver got the barrier on the cab and saw an intercity from Eindhoven pass centimeters in front of him. Last year there were 224 such near collisions at level crossings. And those are just the notifications.

The limit is therefore full for the railway manager. Collisions are life-threatening, says CEO John Voppen. Both for the driver himself, but also for the engineer, train staff, passengers and other road traffic. “You expect alert traffic behavior especially from professional drivers who work with heavy equipment,” says Voppen. “That is why we are now sounding the alarm and want to make these drivers more aware of the risks.”

The material damage of each collision is also great, ProRail emphasizes. Both on the track, level crossing installations and trains. Train traffic is often stopped for days. On average, 50,000 minutes or more than 833 hours of train delays are caused by railway accidents every year. This corresponds to the cancellation of 1600 trains. Then there is emotional damage to those involved in a collision.

In a new awareness campaign, drivers are therefore shown in various videos how a tractor, truck or low loader tries to cross a level crossing. “Are you driving a heavy vehicle? Make sure you are off the track within 12 seconds,” viewers are given advice, among other things.

The campaign fits in with ProRail’s aim to reduce the number of fatalities and injuries at level crossings. The past five years many dangerous NABOs (Not Actively Monitored Level Crossings) have been removed. Of the 180 unguarded level crossings in 2018, 112 had already disappeared. The Ministry of Infrastructure & Water Management (I&W) allocated 180 million euros for this a few years ago. Where removal proves impossible, ProRail makes level crossings safer in consultation with local authorities. For example, by improving the visibility of road users.

The approach has proven to be successful, as figures show: the number of deaths at level crossings has been showing a downward trend for some time. While at the beginning of this century there were often 30 to sometimes more than 40 fatalities per year due to collisions on level crossings, in the last seven years the number of deaths has exceeded ten, only in 2018.

At the same time, the number of collisions involving professional drivers is not decreasing, causing their share to increase in percentage terms. While professional drivers were involved in only five out of 38 collisions in 2013, last year this involved 11 out of 26 collisions. That was an outlier.

Things regularly go wrong with taxis and delivery vans because they want to close in a traffic jam. They then block the level crossing and cannot leave. “When the red lights start flashing, they panic.” Tractors that collect items from the field also pose a risk factor, says Jansen, who is stationed in Eindhoven and is a team leader. “They regularly damage the barriers.”

Since Jansen is also a special investigating officer, he often investigates the cause of collisions or dangerous situations, for example by reading video images. “Often it is not the level crossings that are so unsafe, but the people themselves,” he concludes. “Everyone is so impatient and in a hurry these days. Just be patient and wait for the red lights to go out.”

In his work he always tries to engage in conversation with drivers. “I think that is more important than issuing a fine, whatever we may do.”

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