‘Very worrying’ number of incidents at level crossings

Road users have been urged to use level crossings safely after 28 incidents at crossing points were recorded so far this year – a figure the Chief Executive of Iarnród Éireann has said is “too high”.

Iarnród Éireann said 12 of the incidents resulted in road users being injured or the crossing being damaged.

“In recent months, we have had a number of very worrying incidents and level crossings and we would appeal to all road users to obey the rules of the roads at level crossings. They are for everyone’s safety,” Iarnród Éireann CEO Jim Meaden said.

At automatic crossings, road users are asked to “stop safely when the warning lights begin to flash. Never go through crossings when barriers are about to lower or lowering”.

They are also asked to “respect gatekeepers” at staff operated crossings and “stop immediately when the gatekeeper requests it”.

At user-operated crossings, Iarnród Éireann advises road users to “always stop before crossing to check the line, check the line again after crossing and always close the gate after use for your safety and that of others”.

To mark International Level Crossing Awareness Day, authorities are hosting ten “information days” at crossings across the country.

The events aim to “educate road users about the dangers of not acting safely at level crossings”.

They will be held in counties Dublin, Mayo, Kerry, Limerick, Roscommon and Westmeath.

Also part of its campagin, Iarnród Éireann released footage of incidents at level crossings.

The company said around 300 people die at level crossings across Europe every year.

It added that level crossing accidents account for 1% of road deaths on the continent but account for “31% of all rail fatalities”.

The company is asking road users to be vigilant at level crossings, especially for vulnerable road users, including pedestrians, cyclists, the mobility impaired and e-scooter users.

Iarnród Éireann said it is in the process of closing down a number of level crossings.

In the last decade, it closed 122 crossings and the number of level crossings has decreased by over 60% since the 1990s.

Currently, there are 873 level crossings, both manned and unmanned, throughout the Irish Rail network.