Press Release 16 January 2013: Number of Railway Accidents in Estonia Shows Significant Reduction

In 2012 were registered in Estonia 16 railway accidents, which is almost half of the 2011 result (28 railway accidents).

There were 4 train – motor vehicle collisions injuring one person and with no fatal consequences. It is important that the total number of collisions was reduced almost 4 times (in 2011 took place 15 level crossing collisions) and that during the last two years such collisions have not resulted in any fatalities.

In 2012 there were 12 persons trespassing on railways hit by trains, 6 persons were injured and 7 died.

[image_frame style=”framed_shadow” align=”left” alt=”” title=”Illustreeriva foto autor Tanel Kuusemets / ‘Ei tasu kiirustada, alati oota oma järjekorda'” height=”150″ width=”250″]http://ole.ee/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/eri_Tanel_Kuusemets_03.jpg[/image_frame]Most of the collisions (3 out of 4) took place in wintertime at regulated level crossings due to negligence and choosing inappropriate driving speed and style. Anvar Salomets, Deputy Director General of the Estonian Technical Surveillance Authority (TJA) explained that the activities undertaken in recent years have helped to improved safety at railway crossings, which has now reached the required level. “Revision of regulations, closure of problematic crossings and improvement of visibility has actually improved the safety situation. The number of collisions has reduced several times and in recent years no one has lost life as a result of level crossing accidents,“ added Salomets.

The main reason for persons getting hit was also negligence and violation of traffic regulations (8 incidents), as well as trespassing (4 incidents). In order to reduce the number of accidents caused by negligence, railway companies closed many illegal crossings located between stations inside cities (e.g. Tallinn-Balti, Lilleküla, Tapa, Tartu, Jõgeva). There were also new pedestrian tunnels maximising the safety of crossing railways opened (e.g. Ülemiste, Lagedi, Lilleküla). The positive effect of these improvements will become apparent during the following periods, finds TJA.

The new passenger trains launched in Estonia from June 2013 require even more attentiveness and observation of safety rules from road users and passengers while crossing railway, getting in and out of trains and moving in railway area. Introduction of the new trains means a change in the behaviour patterns, as they are quieter, faster and look completely different. In order to prepare road users for the new trains, TJA, Operation Lifesaver Estonia and Elektriraudtee organise in the first half of 2013 a nation-wide notification campaign.

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Additional information:

Anu Võlma
Chief Specialist of Public Relations

Technical Surveillance Authority
Sõle 23A, 10614 Tallinn
Tel. +372 667 2031
Cellular +372 50 11 585
Anu.Volma@tja.ee
www.tja.ee