IRU and UIC teaming up to reduce accidents
In the framework of the anniversary of the UN's Decade of Action for Road Safety 2011-2020, the International Road Transport Union (IRU) and the International Union of Railways (UIC) have joined forces to initiate a level crossing safety checklist to raise awareness of transport professionals on the issue and reduce related casualties.
Level crossings are a common and necessary interface between road and rail infrastructures. However despite many level crossing removals in recent years, one person per day on average has been killed and close to one seriously injured at level crossings in the EU. Collisions at level crossings in the EU represent 25% of all railway accidents, leading to 29% of all fatalities on the European railways. (ben)