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Train crash in Bienrode: demands for more safety are growing!
After an accident at an unrestricted level crossing in Braunschweig-Bienrode, politicians are calling for faster safety measures.
Train crash in Bienrode: demands for more safety are growing!
On Sunday there was an accident in Braunschweig-Bienrode at an unbarred level crossing, which was reopened to train traffic yesterday, Thursday morning. A regional train collided with a car. The 27-year-old driver was slightly injured. Fortunately, around 50 passengers on the train were uninjured. After the incident, the section of track was temporarily closed, which led to restrictions on regional traffic NDR reported.
Mobility in the region was temporarily ensured by the mobile barrier systems at the scene of the accident and another level crossing. Permanently installed half-barriers are also planned in the long term. Erixx, the company that operates regional trains in the region, is urgently calling for better security of unrestricted level crossings. This is also supported by the district mayor Sonja Lerche from the SPD, who is calling for the situation to be defused for security reasons.
Political reactions and proposals
The political debate over the safety of railway crossings is gaining momentum. The CDU, the FDP and the BIBS criticize that such demands come too late. Michael Berger (CDU) pointed out that an application to secure these crossings had already been rejected in 2022. This current situation has made it necessary to think about safety precautions again.
In the last three years there have been four serious incidents at the same level crossing. The most recent accident occurred when the driver ran a red light and was hit by the local train. Firefighters had to free the woman from her car. The railway line at this crossing is also single-track, which further dramatizes the history of accidents.
Accident risk research statistics
A study by insurers' accident research (UDV) shows that human error is the main reason for accidents at level crossings. 84% of accidents at crossings without gates but with flashing lights are caused by crossing red signals. At crossings with half-barriers, 42% of road users try to avoid them. Every year, around 50 people lose their lives in such accidents, while around 250 are seriously injured and almost 1,000 are slightly injured.
The proportion of safe crossings can be improved through structural measures. Full barriers are considered the safest solution, but they require longer closing times, which can be problematic during busy times. That is why it is particularly important to inform drivers about the risks and to create better technical precautions.
Necessary security measures
Dem Research information system According to this, there were a total of 13,624 level crossings in Germany in 2022. Over 70% of them are technically secured. However, a significant proportion remains unsecured, which can lead to problems, particularly in traffic-intensive areas. It is essential that existing regulations be revised in order to increase safety and, above all, increase awareness among road users.
In light of these recent events, it is clear that both political decisions and renewed safety measures are necessary to avoid similar accidents in the future. A well-designed traffic safety system could make the affected level crossings safer and minimize the risk for all road users. It is now up to the decision-makers to initiate the necessary package of measures.