PRESS RELEASE! June 25 is Trans-European Level Crossing Awareness Day

June 25 is Trans-European Level Crossing Awareness Day

Operation Lifesaver Estonia (OLE) joined the initiative of international railway organisations organising a Trans-European Level Crossing Awareness Day taking place on June 25, 2009. The message of the campaign is: “Say no to accidents! Europe stands for safer level crossings!”

During this day railway safety messages are broadcasted in various radio channels, posters carrying the message will be displayed at level and pedestrian crossings all around Estonia and a “safety tent” will be erected in the close proximity of Lilleküla railway station in Tallinn.

The railway safety tent is open for all the passers-by who can get information about the risks involved in crossing railway and possibilities for avoiding them.

During the day the police will pay more attention to the behaviour of drivers and pedestrians on level crossings and their compliance with the traffic safety rules.

In accordance with the statistical information collected by the Technical Surveillance Authority there have been 5 railway accidents during the first five months of 2009. Three of them were level crossing accidents and two involved pedestrians hit by railway vehicles. These railway accidents resulted in 2 fatalities and 3 persons injured.

The last serious level crossing accident of 2009 took place on May 24 between Rakke and Vägeva stations where a Fiat Turbo hit on a regulated level crossing the head wagon of Tallinn-Tartu passenger train operated by AS Edelaraudtee. The motor vehicle driver committed a serious violation of traffic regulations and drove through a red traffic light signal. The driver died at the scene of the accident.

The last serious accident involving a pedestrian took place on January 8 at Laagri pedestrian crossing where an Elektriraudtee passenger train hit a person who stepped in front of the train. The pedestrian did not react to the sound signal of the train. The locomotive driver applied emergency brakes but could not avoid the accident. The pedestrian died at the scene of the accident.

The Level Crossing Awareness Day is supported by:
AS Eesti Raudtee
AS Edelaraudtee
Technical Surveillance Authority
Estonian Police
City of Tallinn
Estonian Broadcasters Association

For more information contact:
Operation Lifesaver Estonia
Tamo Vahemets
Chairman of Board
+ 372 50 45 112
E-mail: ole@ole.ee

Technical Surveillance Authority
Anu Võlma
Chief Specialist of Public Relations
+ 372 667 2031
E-mail: anu.volma@tja.ee

Police Board
Anne Osvet
Head of Communication Department
+ 372 612 3051
+ 372 517 3051
E-mail: anne.osvet@pol.ee