Series of accidents at unsecured level crossings: Bavaria on alert!

Series of accidents at unsecured level crossings: Bavaria on alert!

Recent accidents at railway crossings in Bavaria show alarming safety deficiencies. A serious accident recently occurred in Franconia in which a regional train ran onto an unsecured track and collided with a car. The two occupants of the car suffered injuries, the driver even seriously. This incident adds to worrying statistics: In May there was a similar accident in Pocking, in which a regional train collided with a truck and ten people were injured. Such incidents bring the problem of unsecured level crossings into focus. According to the most recent surveys, there are 2,907 level crossings in Bavaria, almost half of which are unsecured - an alarming result, as merkur.de reports.

In Germany, 63.3 percent of the total 15,820 level crossings are secured. Nevertheless, the number of accidents is increasing, especially in the Free State. In 2023, 154 accidents at level crossings caused various personal injuries, with 46 of these incidents taking place in Bavaria alone. Although the number of accidents has tended to decrease over the last three decades - from 28,000 accident scenes in the 1990s - the situation remains critical. As the ADAC states, there is no general safety problem because comparisons are difficult due to different conditions. Nevertheless, the ADAC also explains that over 95 percent of accidents are caused by inattention or ignorance on the part of road users.

Safety standards and recommendations

Safety at level crossings is carried out in accordance with strict regulations that set out the Railway Construction and Operating Regulations (EBO) and technical regulations. Unlimited crossings are only permitted in certain cases, such as on single-track branch lines with low speed restrictions. 34-40% of all accidents involving personal injuries in rail transport take place at systems that are not technically secured. In order to increase safety, the German Road Safety Council (DVR) recommends measures such as the use of red light monitoring systems or structural separation of the roadways. In addition, an educational campaign under the motto “be safe” could prevent potential accidents.

Accidents often happen due to disregard for the rules or poor visibility. Whether crossing a railway crossing, all road users should observe the applicable rules of conduct. This includes:

• Langsam fahren und bremsbereit sein.
• Auf akustische Signale achten.
• Beide Seiten der Strecke am Andreaskreuz überblicken.
• Geschlossene Schranken nicht umfahren.
• Bei geöffneten Schranken warten, wenn Lichter leuchten.
• Im Notfall die Notrufnummer 112 wählen.

However, the challenges remain. According to experts, a significant reduction in unsecured level crossings is not expected. Therefore, driving carefully in these locations remains of utmost importance. The exact type of security at each crossing depends on factors such as train speed and traffic volume. The aim should be to gradually replace unsecured crossings with modern technical solutions such as full or half barriers.

It is high time that the relevant authorities take measures to improve this security. Accidents can often be prevented if road users are trained and aware. The assumption that the number of accidents is so high due to a lack of attention and ignorance must be taken seriously and should lead to a rethinking of road safety.

As the reports from merkur.de and dvr.de confirm, we all have to work to improve safety at these critical transitions.