To mark the Annual International Level Crossing Awareness Day (ILCAD) today, June 9th, Iarnród Éireann, An Garda Síochána and the Road Safety Authority with the support of local authorities undertook information sessions for commercial vehicles at various level crossings on the Iarnród Éireann network.
To coincide with this Iarnród Éireann has adapted four commercial vehicles of its fleet to convey its safety messages around its CCTV type level crossings
“We are targeting these level crossing types as we have seen a surge in vehicle strikes and especially with commercial vehicles. Some drivers are ignoring the flashing red lights, trying to beat the lowering barriers, which inevitably leads to the barriers being damaged which in turn leads to delayed tarins and passengers. Not to mention the damage caused to the road vehicles as a result of this unlawful activity, explained Frank Golden, Senior Technical Executive, Track & Structures Technical Support at Iarnród Éireann.
“So we will have these vehicles actively out around the network, serving to remind level crossing users and members of the public to act safely around our level crossings and the railway. They were also be in place at a number of the targeted level crossings in Mayo and Roscommon on the 9th of June,” he added.
Pictured (l-r) are Eoghan Brennan, James Lally, Irish Rail; Garda Hugh McHugh, Mayo Roads Policing Unit; Chris Hegarty, Road Safety Authority; Garda Caroline Taaffe, Mayo Roads Policing Unit; Vincent Connolly, Irish Rail and Sgt. James Malone, Mayo Roads Policing Unit.
