Press Release, 26 April 2010

The Railway Safety Week launched today reminds that red traffic light forbids driving also at railway level crossings.

The main message of the current Railway Safety Week launched on Monday is “RED IS RED”. The objective of the campaign is to remind people that the red light in the traffic lights at a railway crossing equals to the red light burning in regular traffic lights on streets. The Railway Safety Week lasts until May 2, 2010.

“If people usually stop on streets whilst noticing red traffic lights and wait for the green light then the red light at railway level crossings is often disregarded both by drivers and pedestrians,“ said Tamo Vahemets, Chairman of the Board of Operation Lifesaver Estonia. ”It is particularly sad that many of the pedestrians are thinking that the signs and lights installed at railway crossings are meant for motor vehicle drivers only and are not valid for pedestrians.“

The breaking of level crossing gates is also often related to disregarding red traffic lights. Each year around 100-140 level crossing gates get damaged in Estonia.

During the Railway Safety Week presentations are made in various educational institutions, thematic posters will be displayed on streets all around Estonia and the kindergartens get ca 3000 new safety vests (In cooperation with the Estonian Railway Culture Foundation).

The main event of the Railway Safety Week is the gratitude event “Golden Level Crossing Gates 2010” where OLE thanks the persons and organisations dealing with railway safety.