Accidents at level crossings are decreasing, further investments and awareness campaign will support positive trend

Almost 1,500 level crossings have been upgraded since 2015, with another 150 level crossings added last year alone. For this year, Správa železnic has planned modifications at 128 locations at a cost of CZK 1.6 billion. The work will be mostly carried out at crossings with 3rd class roads, 42 level crossings in total. In 20 cases, traffic lights with barriers will be added to the warning crosses.

On corridor lines, Správa železnic replaces level crossings with overpasses or underpasses. In Holická Street in Olomouc, drivers started to use the new overpass completed last year. This spring the construction of a road underpass in Studénka will begin, which will be built instead of the current busy four-track level crossing.

Investment in level crossing safety has a positive impact on the reduced number of accidents. Last year there were 133 collisions between road and rail vehicles, the fewest in five years. The same applies to the number of fatalities, which was 26. An important contribution to the increase of railway and road traffic is the elimination of level crossings, 58 of which were eliminated last year. Since 2021, a total of 273 level crossings on the Czech railway network have been reduced.

‘We will miss you’ campaign is targeting drivers and schools

From 10 February, viewers of Česká televize (Czech Television) and passengers at railway stations across the country will see spots warning against risky behaviour at level crossings. The appeal builds on a previous successful campaign, again using the strong visual element of the empty chair. This time, however, it adds an even more emotive message: it works with the motif of a tombstone and the number 204. This symbolises the number of people who never returned home as a result of their hazardous behaviour on the railway.

The budesnamchybet.cz (‘we will miss you.cz’) website offers not only spots from this and previous safety campaigns, but also a range of educational materials that teachers
can use in their classes.

“Recently, we have succeeded in reducing the number of victims and accidents at level crossings. I am convinced that in addition to investments in their safety, the education we have been doing for several years has also helped. We even received several awards for the previous year's We will miss you campaign,” reminds Jiří Svoboda, Director General of Správa železnic.

Under the auspices of the Ministry of Transport, Správa železnic is cooperating with České dráhy (Czech Railways) and Drážní úřad (Railway Authority) on the campaign. The main media partner is Česká televize.

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