Page 60 - Operation Lifesaver Estonia / Annual Report 2012

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© Operation Lifesaver is a international, non-profit education and awareness program dedicated to ending
tragic collisions, fatalities and injuries at highway-rail grade crossings and on railroad rights of way.
Founded in Estonia on 19 November 2004 - www.ole.ee
The railway safety week of 2012 was using the
slogan “Know your opponent” and called on people
to notice trains being the largest means of land
transport and assesses their force properly.
The message of the campaign was based on the sad
results of the year 2011 and the large number of
people who lost their lives on railway. It is sad to
admit that almost all of these accidents could have
been prevented if people would have paid more
attention on railways and understood the difference
between them and trains better.
The slogan of the railway safety week “Know your
opponent” drew a parallel between railway and
sports hall. Before starting a completion, sportsmen
do a lot of homework to identify the strength and
weaknesses of their opponents. The one making
fewer mistakes and realising more opportunities
wins. The same rule should be applied in traffic
where there are “players” in different weight
categories. Everyone leaving his or her home should
understand what are the opportunities to return as
a “winner”. The first lesson should be that on land
trains have no equal opponents and those not
considering the weight and braking distance of
trains will always be losers.
Today in Estonia can be operated freight trains
weighing up to 5500 tonnes and driving up to
90 km/h. In case of such weight and speed, the
braking distance of a train is up to 2 kilometres. The
passenger trains are lighter but they can drive up
to 120 m/h and soon with the new trains arriving,
up to 140 km/h. The faster and quieter trains are
certainly better for their users and their arrival will
make using rail transport more popular. Meanwhile,
these numbers should make careful those moving
around and crossing railways by foot, bike, car or
bus. If we do not pay attention then the pleasure of
having new trains might not last long.
Crossing railways is a routine for many road users.
This is why people tend to forget the basic rules of
safe railway crossing. For that reason the police paid
particular attention to railway crossings throughout
the railway safety week.
The railway safety week also included railway safety
presentations in schools, displaying posters in public
space and showing the campaign ad on TV. The key
event of the week was the “Golden Level Crossing
Gates” ceremony that recognised the organisations
and private persons contributing actively in railway
safety.
Railway Safety Week
Watching the
campaign video
using a QR-reader