Safety Tips Level crossings safety tips

A level crossing is an interface between road and rail infrastructure. According to the UNECE 1968 Vienna Convention on Road Traffic and the Highway Code, trains have priority, whilst road users and pedestrians must comply with road signs and signals in order to cross safely and consequently prevent any collision arising from misuse or inappropriate behaviour and potentially endangering train passengers, crew and other users.

Using a level crossing is safe as long as users cross properly. Nevertheless, risks still exist and the consequences of a collision between trains and commercial vehicles can be dramatic.

Global freight and passenger traffic, both road and rail, have increased markedly in recent decades, thereby also increasing the risks of collisions at level crossings. This is why level crossing road users should be aware of the risks they may encounter at this particular interface.

This is why UIC decided to issue various level crossing safety flyers:

For professional drivers

In 2016 IRU and UIC, two worldwide road and rail associations, plus Operation Lifesaver Estonia, have decided to join forces to raise awareness about level crossing safety amongst transport professionals.

The 3 safety guidances for

  • Bus/coach drivers
  • Truck drivers
  • Taxi drivers

do not necessarily cover every situation that may arise when drivers of commercial vehicles use a level crossing, but it may help make them more aware of how to avoid the risks that may lead to a collision.

The 3 flyers and an informative note are available in 21 languages. You will find here the light version of the 3 flyers for web use.
Should you need the HD versions in .PDF for printing purposes or the flyers in your language please contact Isabelle Fonverne

AL
AR
BO
CH
CR 1
CR 2
CZ
DU
EN
FR
DE
GR 1
GR 2
HU
IT
MC
MO
PO 1
PO 2
RU
SB
ES
SW
UK 1
UK 2
JP

For light vehicle drivers

In December 2021, in the framework of the second UN Decade of Action for Road Safety 2021-2030, the International Union of Railways (UIC), the International Road Federation (IRF), two worldwide road and rail associations, plus Operation Lifesaver Estonia (OLE), have decided to join forces to raise awareness about level crossing safety amongst light vehicle drivers and thus contribute to the reduction of collisions and related casualties.
The three organisations have jointly developed two dedicated safety flyers (one for 2-wheel-light-motorised vehicles and one for 4-wheel-light-motorised vehicles).
Both flyers do not necessarily cover every situation that may arise when drivers of light vehicles use a level crossing, but they will certainly raise awareness on how to avoid the risks that may lead to a collision.
Both flyers are available in English for the moment, and later in French and Spanish.
You will find here both flyers for web use.
Should you need the HD versions in .PDF for printing purposes or the flyers in your language please contact Isabelle Fonverne

Car Flyer web English
Car Flyer web French
Car Flyer web Spanish
Car Flyer web Polish
Car Flyer web Hungarian
Car Flyer web Greek

For motorbike and scooter drivers

Motorbike Flyer web English
Motorbike flyer French
Motorbike flyer web Spanish
Motorbike Flyer web Polish
Motorbike Flyer web Hungarian
Scooter Flyer web Greek

For cyclists and users of micro-mobilty devices

cyclists web EN
cyclists web ES
cyclists web FR
cyclists web GR
cyclists web PT BR

For pedestrians

pedestrians web EN
pedestrians web ES
pedestrians web FR
pedestrians web GR
pedestrians web PT BR

For Persons with Reduced Mobility (PRM)

PWRM web EN
PWRM web ES
PWRM web FR
PWRM web GR
PWRM web PT BR

Statistics on level crossing safety:

UIC safety database: https://safetydb.uic.org/

SAFER LC project: https://safer-lc.eu/

and its toolbox https://toolbox.safer-lc.eu/

Contacts: