From 23 to 29 September 2024, Railpol held its annual Rail Action Week, focusing on improving railway safety. Police officers, along with representatives of Slovenian Railways, stepped up the monitoring of crossing the rail tracks and passenger behaviour on trains throughout the country.
Railpol action sees 35 violations detected by 791 police officers
During the week-long monitoring of 377 level railway crossings, police officers checked 96 pedestrians, 30 cyclists and 70 drivers of other vehicles, identifying 35 violations related to misuse of railway crossings. In total, police officers and rail traffic controllers from Slovenian Railways issued seven warnings, while 14 offenders were referred to the competent minor offence authority.
In addition, 29 inspections were carried out at critical railway points, such as tunnels and bridges, and a lecture to raise awareness of railway safety was given to young people.
The preventive action was organised under the auspices of Railpol's Police Investigation in Railway Accidents and Other Major Incidents working group, aiming to foster a safety culture both on trains and at railway crossings, ultimately enhancing overall rail safety.
Numerous violations despite warnings—Stay safe!
It is important to remember that trains have a significantly longer braking distance than cars. While failing to yield at a road crossing might result in a minor incident, this is rarely the case at railway crossings, where trains can take several hundred meters to come to a stop after hitting a vehicle.
Careless trespassing on the tracks—mostly by locals—also poses a serious risk. In poor visibility, crossing the tracks at unguarded level crossings becomes even more hazardous. Drivers are advised to open their windows when stopping their vehicle before a crossing in such conditions, as even if they will not be able to see the oncoming train, they will at least be able to hear it!
Police emphasizes that drivers' reckless behaviour at level crossings is a major factor in railway accidents, especially when combined with reduced visibility caused by weather conditions like fog or sun glare. Unfortunately, accidents still occur at crossings equipped with warning lights, half barriers, or even full barriers. There is simply no excuse for crossing the tracks when the barriers are not fully raised and the warning lights are flashing. Most often, drivers will drive around the half barriers, speed up and drive under the lowering barriers, or cross while the barriers are still coming up, all with devastating consequences.