Truck damaged train barrier: tips for safe crossing of level crossings

accidents at level crossings: Security is going on

Großen-Buseck (Gießen district)-an incident on August 5, which luckily assumed lightly, throws a new light on safety at level crossings.

how it came to the incident

A 47-year-old truck driver from Wesel, North Rhine-Westphalia, caused property damage of around 1000 euros at the level crossing in Edkastraße. When crossing the rail area, the driver apparently overlooked the already lowering rail barrier and the red flashing light on the Andreaskreuz, which led to a collision with the barrier. Fortunately, there were no injuries, only rail traffic was affected by the incident.

The role of the federal police

Following the accident, the Federal Police Inspection Kassel initiated an administrative offense procedure against the driver. This incident is not only an individual case, but also draws attention to the importance of security instructions, which in particular should consider truck drivers when crossing the rail systems.

preventive measures for accident prevention

The federal police regularly publish advice on level crossings. These are important for all road users and help to avoid accidents and increase general traffic safety. Important points are:

• level crossings have priority: always stop before crossing and look left and right, even if the barriers are open.
• at least five meters: keep in front of the St. Andrew's cross in parked situations when the barriers are closed or the flashing light lights up.
• never stop on the tracks: only cross the tracks if you are sure that your vehicle can fully cross them.
• pay attention to warning signals: react immediately to acoustic and optical warning signals.
• load securing is crucial: make sure that no load protrudes into the tracks when you stop.
• do not enter at traffic jam: make sure that there is enough space on the other hand to leave the transition immediately.
• emergency call for blockade: If your vehicle gets stuck, leave it immediately and call the emergency number 110.

conclusion: sensitization is the key

The incident in Großen-Buseck serves as a warning example of the dangers that hide at level crossings. Security awareness and the compliance of regulations are essential to avoid similar situations in the future. The federal police's tips are an important contribution to clarifying both truck drivers and all other road users about the risks and increasing the safety in road traffic.