On 9 June 2022, 160 delegates shared best practices on level crossing safety at the UIC international conference to launch the 14th edition of ILCAD hosted by AAR/FRA/OLI at the Cable Center, Denver (CO, USA).
The terrible collision that happened on 27 June 2022 in the State of Missouri (USA) involving a train carrying nearly 300 people that hit a dump truck at an unprotected crossing (no barriers, no lights), causing several cars to derail and injuring 150 people and killing 4 (the truck driver and three passengers), reminds us all that we shall never give up our battle to increase safety at level crossings and stop track tragedies.
https://www.nytimes.com/2022/06/27/us/amtrak-truck-crash-missouri.html
“Our thoughts are with all those affected by this tragic incident in Missouri, including those who lost their lives, the passengers, their families, the train crew members, first responders and the Mendon, Missouri community. This heart-breaking incident is a sad reminder that a vehicle or person is hit by a train every three hours in the US.” said OLI Executive Director Rachel Maleh.
Of course, UIC and the whole rail community share Rachel Maleh’s thoughts.
There are about half a million level crossings worldwide: over 100,000 in the EU and approximately 204,000 in the United States; of these 140,000 are on public roads.
Closing all level crossings or upgrading them with barriers and/or lights would take an exceedingly long time. 100 years would not be enough, as it would be very expensive and in many cases, impossible. Moreover, even with these protections, people still make mistakes, whether intentionally or unintentionally.
Engineering and innovative solutions, Education and Enforcement have together improved safety at grade crossings over the past decades. But the actions of Education and awareness must be constantly repeated to raise the awareness of the general public of the risks they can encounter at and around tracks. This is why ILCAD exists globally and annually, in addition to all existing national initiatives to address communities, media, local and national authorities, and the road sector.
Each year new countries participate in ILCAD, and this year we welcomed Congo Brazzaville and Angola.
Indeed, regardless of our country, our culture and our language, we face the same challenges every day and we have the same objective: “Working together to save lives!”
On 9 June, many actions were carried out in different countries around the world to secure level crossings, targeting “vulnerable users” with the slogan: “Don’t put your life at risk, stay away from tracks!”
Next year we might use a different slogan to target another sector of the public.
Save the date for the 15th edition of ILCAD on 8 June 2023.
ILCAD 2023 will be launched at a conference hosted in Warsaw, Poland, at the kind invitation of the PKP Group Foundation. On 7 June there will also be the 2nd edition of the Trespass and Suicide Prevention, followed by technical/social events on 9 June 2023.
Watch the ILCAD 2022 video, which collates CCTV footage of inappropriate behaviour at level crossings in English, French and Spanish.
Discover additional level crossing safety and trespass prevention videos here:
Find more information on the ILCAD website: www.ilcad.org
#ilcad #UICRail #saferlc #restrail #olinational #AAR_freightrail #USDOT_FRA #education #awareness #TrespassSuicidePrevention
Here are some examples of activities carried out by countries taking part in ILCAD 2022:
Angola
https://www.railwaysafrica.com/news/caminho-de-ferro-de-luanda-international-level-crossing-awareness-day-celebrations
South Africa
https://www.railwaysafrica.com/news/international-level-crossing-awareness-day-ilcad-9-june-2022
https://www.iol.co.za/capeargus/news/call-to-prioritise-level-crossing-safety-and-end-preventable-deaths-1fd604eb-1659-416d-85ca-c5337e50ceab?utm_term=Autofeed&utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Twitter#Echobox=1654866500
Argentina
Argentina:
- A law was proposed by Congressman Dr Alberto Conocchiari to the Honourable Chamber of Deputies of the Province of Buenos Aires, in order to institutionalise the “Level Crossing Awareness Week”. The bill was adopted by the Chamber of Deputies on 6 April 2022.
- ILCAD Conference in Spanish at the UTN-BA in Buenos Aires on 9 June, Isabelle Fonverne’s online presentation: https://youtu.be/th9FStrJJ5U
FFE, Spain: Training session with a team of volunteers
ÖBB employees engaging with motorists to highlight the potential dangers near level crossings.
Image: ÖBB
Greece
“ILCAD 2022 campaign: control on the Lake Balaton main line”
Hungary: https://youtu.be/F4rBIJKe9xc
Rep. of Irland
Poland
70% of all accidents at railway crossings in Poland are caused by drivers
Photo: Michał Adamowski
Reporter: INTERIA.PL
India
UBTZ, Mongolia
USA
Mexico
