The concept of improving safety on D-grade railway level crossings

Abstract

The article discusses the safety issue on railway level crossings, specifically emphasizing D-grade crossings, i.e., not equipped with any safety devices. Such crossings pose the most significant challenge to improving railway system safety. The lack of any warning or safety devices causes the safe passage through these crossings dependent only on the car driver his concentration and observation of legal requirements (especially enforcing stopping before the STOP sign). Due to that, it is suggested to introduce devices allowing for automatic identification and registration of violations by drivers. Recorded material will be handed over to the relevant authorities (e.g., Police, General Inspectorate for Road Transport), which will undertake appropriate actions. The article also attempts to assess the influence of such a solution on the number of accidents on given level crossings and their outcome, among others, on improving railway safety.