One of the biggest risks on railways across the world is where trains and road vehicles or people both use intersections known as ‘grade or ‘level’ crossings. The international railway community
shares best practice through UIC’s Global Level Crossing Network (GLCN) and promotes safe use each
year with an International Level Crossing Awareness Day (ILCAD). Other campaigns and the Safer LC
toolbox help rail and road authorities to reduce the number of incidents and fatalities at the
world’s level crossings.
The UIC Safety Platform proposed that GLCN should identify best practice for risk assessment of grade/level crossings and promote adoption by member railways. This guide provides the best practice identified by that work. With the help of UIC members, the GLCN has identified 7 Principles for Risk Assessing Level Crossings:
- Risk assess each level crossing
- the frequency of re-assessment should be guided by the risk at each crossing
- Look beyond the level crossing
- Think like the user
- Engage with users and stakeholders
- The numbers are useful, but they are not everything
- Eliminate, Reduce, Control, Inform, Educate
Download the full report here.
The TrackSAFE Information Hub has more information available on level crossing safety and rail safety.
January 2023