Number of Railway Accidents Stabilising

The number of railway accidents occurring in Estonia shows signs of stabilisation. According to the statistical information published by the Estonian Surveillance Authority, the total number of railway accidents taking place during the first half-year has not increased compared to the same period of previous year.

The number of accidents has remained at the same level despite to the growing volume of goods hauled on the infrastructure and increased traffic density thereof.
During the first half of 2011 occurred 8 motor vehicle-train collisions that is the same result as in 2010, whereas the number of persons injured and killed showed a reduction. During the first half-year of 2010 railway accidents killed 2 and injured 4 persons but in 2011 there were no fatalities and only one person got injured. The consequences of collisions were also not so serious than a year ago – there were no serious collisions and most of the less serious accidents took place due to choosing driving speed not suitable for weather conditions.

Most of the collisions occurred during the first quarter of the year when Estonia had harsh winter and bad weather conditions. The number of accidents taking place in spring and summer period has decreased year on year. The daring behaviour and reduced attentiveness of people that is visible in springtime traffic behaviour is compensated by additional safety measures (more protected level crossings, improved visibility).

The number of pedestrians hit by railway rolling stock has remained the same – in total we hade 6 such incidents during the fist half-year. Meanwhile, we are glad to see that the number of people killed in such accidents has reduced – during the first half-year of 2010 we had four fatalities but in 2011 three. The reasons for such accidents are quite difficult to determine. The number of accidents caused by the negligence of pedestrians is rather small; mostly we are dealing with planned suicides. This can also be seen from the fact that most of pedestrians are hit in unpopulated areas where exist no pedestrian crossings or even unofficial railway crossings.

Anvar Salomets, Deputy Director General of Estonian Technical Surveillance Authority, said that he is happy to see that the number of railway accidents has remained at the same level. “Stabilising accident number and reduced number of serious collisions is a positive sign. We have been able to achieve a certain level of safety and maintain it,” added Salomets.

The railway accident statistics by years prepared by the Technical Surveillance Authority are available on its official website.

[divider]Additional information:

Anu Võlma
Chief Specialist of Public Relations
Technical Surveillance Authority
Sõle 23A, 10614 Tallinn
667 2031
50 11 585
Anu.Volma@tja.ee