Launch conferences at UIC in Paris
The International Level Crossing Awareness Day (ILCAD), a global initiative led by the UIC, yesterday marked the launch of its 18th annual campaign. Its aim is to raise public awareness of the potential risks at level crossings and improve safety. Closely followed by the global railway community, ILCAD has become a key event for the sector.
The conference, moderated by Allan Spence, Chair of the UIC Global Level Crossing Network, opened with a welcome address by François Davenne, UIC Director General, followed by discussions dedicated to advancing rail safety worldwide.
In his opening remarks, François Davenne underlined a fundamental challenge facing the rail sector: as rail continues to grow as a sustainable and efficient mode of transport, safety must remain at the core of its development.
Around fifty countries generally take part in the annual ILCAD campaign. Each year, a partner country organises the launch conference, providing an opportunity to share best practice and projects aiming to improve safety and reduce the number of incidents at level crossings.
In addition to ILCAD, in June 2022, UIC launched a second global safety campaign called Trespass Awareness Day (TRESPAD) with the 5th edition being celebrated this year.
Around the world, regardless of country or culture, the rail industry faces the same problems, as accidents and fatalities involving level crossings account for almost a third of all rail accidents. If incidents involving pedestrians trespassing on tracks are included, this figure increases to over 90%.
While the vast majority of collisions are caused by users deliberately taking risks or making the wrong decisions through oversight, habit, or by being distracted, risk assessments, as well as technical solutions and innovation, are being used to improve the most dangerous level crossings. In addition to safety measures, education/awareness initiatives can be launched to improve safety and, if necessary, enforcement measures can then be implemented to counter inappropriate behaviour at level crossings and on and near tracks.
By raising awareness, educating and working in collaboration with various sectors, ILCAD and TRESPAD strive to reduce the number of incidents and save lives.
This year, the public in general is being targeted with the slogan “Alert today – Safe tomorrow”.
Crucial topics such as risk assessment, technical and innovative solutions, education, public awareness and cross-sector collaboration (road, rail, police, decision-makers, land-use planning) to ensure rail safety were addressed, with speakers hailing from Europe, Japan, Africa, Canada and the USA.
Alongside these conferences, an exhibition was held with industry leaders from the sector, including the SNCF Group (France), Wavetrain (Norway), Imotion Analytics (Spain), Hitachi (France), IDS (Italy), Schweizer Electronic (France), Zöllner Signal GmbH (Germany), Gmundner Fertigteile-Bodan (Austria), East Japan Railway Company (Japan, Paris Office), IHI Corporation (Japan), Sankosha Co. Ltd (Japan) and Universal Signalling (UK).
These companies are generously supporting the events and showcased their innovative solutions on-site during the conferences.
The 11 June will be dedicated to technical visits at various locations organised with the support of SNCF Réseau.
A few figures:
According to the UIC Safety Report (available via the interactive dashboard), in 2024:
- 34 partner railway companies from 31 countries reported an average of 10 victims per week at level crossings, with these mostly being level crossing users (98%).
- The split between accidents with vehicles and accidents with persons at level crossings accounted for 68% and 32%, respectively.
- For collisions with vehicles, 11% of accidents were without victims, 15% of accidents had two or more victims, 45% of accidents had one seriously injured person and 29% of accidents resulted in a fatality.
- For accidents where an individual was hit by a train at a level crossing, 28% of these accidents resulted in a serious injury, while 71% of these accidents were fatal with approximately 1% resulting in multiple victims.
- Regional and long-distance passenger trains were involved in 70% of level crossing accidents.
- Over the five previous years, the number of accidents related to intrusions had generally followed an upward trend. While a low was achieved in 2020 (824), 2022 marked a sharp peak (983), which was confirmed in 2023 (986).
- However, 2024 marked the first reversal of this trend, with a decrease in intrusion-related accidents (-6%) as well as in the number of associated victims (-7%) compared to 2023.
Visit
