Iarnród Éireann has warned drivers, and even cyclists, of an increase in crashes at rail level crossings so far this year, announcing it was set to undertake special education courses to increase awareness around crossings.
The railway company also issued a video of some recent incidents as it made its safety appeal on 'International Level Crossing Awareness Day'. While the vast majority of crashes at level crossings involve drivers, one cycling incident is featured in the video, above.
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So far this year there have been 54 incidents at level crossings across the Republic, up almost 75 per cent from 31 incients in the same period last year. Most of the incidents have taken place at level crossings in Dublin.
Iarnród Éireann is teaming up with An
Garda Síochána, the Road Safety Authority and with several local councils to run
information days at selected level crossings around the country.
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Jane
Cregan, a communications executive with Iarnród Éireann described as “worrying” the
increase in crashes at the crossings so far this year, though non have been
fatal.
“They
are really quite frightening,” she said of the crahes. “Thankfully, we’ve had
no injuries but it’s something we are very aware of and it is a major safety
risk for us. We’re appealing to everybody to act safely at level crossins, be
they in a vehicle, be they cyclists or pedestrians, to always obey the rules of
the road when it comes to level crossings.”
To date in 2022 there
have been incidents in Dublin at Landsdowne Rd, Serpentine Ave, Sandymount Ave,
Sutton, Bray, Merrion Gates, Baldoyle Rd, Coolmine and Sydney Parade, Cosh and
Banteer.
