Page 57 - Operation Lifesaver Estonia / Annual Report 2012

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Operation Lifesaver Estonia Annual Report 2012
observation of traffic lights, use of mobile phones
during driving, types of violation based on time and
type of vehicle. In total, the research covered railway
crossing by 4740 vehicles, 2904 of which crossed
the level crossing in Aranküla and 1836 in Rapla.
Compared to the results of the previous studies
conducted in Estonia, our research showed much
more traffic light violations. The drivers did not pay
enough attention to the safety of level crossings
mostly in the morning hours and during the day and
most often it occurred in weekends and days off.
There were more speeding drivers in the evenings
and on workdays. Traffic light signals were not
followed mostly in daytime on workdays and the
drivers used their mobile phones while driving also
in the morning hours and during daytime.
The results of both of the researches can be used
for planning railway safety promotion activities. We
need to know what people think, wish, believe but
also how people actually behave at level crossings
in order to influence their behaviour and attitudes.
It is important to find an answer to the question –
what does actually make people behave in such risky
manner. In the future it could be researched whether
the perceiving of injury risk is lower, whether people
lack knowledge for noticing danger or whether they
are just not wiling to behave safe at level crossings.
Meanwhile, the results of the research can already
be used for planning motor vehicle drivers’ traffic
education in educational institutions and driving
schools.
Our special thanks for good cooperation goes to our
instructor, OLE’s Training Manager Getter Toome and
OLE’s Chairman Tamo Vahemets.
Railway level crossing in Rapla (April 2012)
Graduation paper “Public Railway Safety”
Aranküla railway level crossing in Rapla rural municipality (April 2012)