Footlops on tracks stops regional express near Graben-Neudorf!

Footlops on tracks stops regional express near Graben-Neudorf!

in Graben-Neudorf, in the district of Karlsruhe, a terrifying incident caused excitement: a regional express had to stop when the train driver suddenly discovered a pedestrian on the tracks. The train was around 120 passengers on the way from Karlsruhe to Frankfurt am Main and raced at around 160 km/h. The spirit of danger hovered over the scenery, but fortunately nobody was harmed. The train driver reacted quickly and initiated an immediate emergency braking, which could avert a disaster. Apparently the person who had run over the rails was overturned and then quickly fled from the scene.

The police are now investigating dangerous interference in rail traffic . Such incidents are not only dangerous, but also legally questionable. Even if the train has got off lightly in this case, similar situations are not uncommon and often underestimated the dangers.

accidents at the level crossing - a serious matter

The risks of level crossings should not be underestimated. In 2016 there were a total of 995 accidents at rail crossings that led to 46 deaths and 1,367 injuries, as reported dvr. These accidents make up 30 to 40 % of all personal injury in rail traffic. Events are increasing particularly at unsecured transitions.

Another example of the dangers of level crossings occurred in Bavaria: a 14-year-old boy carried his bike over a trail and got into a predicament when the bike got in a space. The approaching train threw all alarm bells and the train driver initiated an emergency braking. Fortunately, the boy was able to save himself from the tracks in time, while the bike was dragged several hundred meters without anyone being injured. This event underlines the need to raise awareness of the dangers of rail traffic, especially in children. The Federal Polician Michaela Hofmeister tells this experience in school classes to clarify security questions, because many children incorrectly assume that after a train journey will not follow any further trains if they consult the timetable.

prevention work to increase security

In order to increase safety at level crossings, various measures are necessary. Initiatives of [DVR] (https://www.dvr.de/politik/icherheit-an-bahnuebergaengaen- von-eisenbahnen-erhoehen), Deutsche Bahn and the federal police show that educational work, especially in young people, is of great importance. The pull of a train that drives by can also have fatal consequences for careless pedestrians, which is why travelers are admonished to stay on platforms behind the safety line.

Reality shows that in Bavaria, fewer than 30 accidents have been recorded in Bavaria. However, the train driver Markus Köfler speaks of frequent “almost accidents” on side routes, which shows that the problem at level crossings must be taken seriously. Here you need more information and better secure systems to ensure that such dangerous situations can be avoided in the future.