The stopping distance of a train travelling at 100 kilometres per hour is approximately one kilometre. At crossroads, neglecting the right of way might not always have dire consequences, but at railway level crossings a non-tragic outcome is more often the exception rather than the rule. As part of the project "Working together to improve road safety", COPS@rail warning systems will alert road users on 12 road sections that they are approaching a railway crossing and allow municipalities a better understanding of the behaviour of drivers at such crossings.
The issue of road traffic safety at level crossings is linked primarily to non-observance of traffic regulations. Fog and other adverse weather conditions, sun glare, obstructed visibility, thoughtless and careless behaviour, and poor or unstable psychophysical state of road users can often further contribute to this, the police note, adding that all too often, improper behaviour on the part of drivers at level crossings results in traffic accidents. Open crossings are particularly dangerous when visibility is obstructed and poor. According to the Slovenian Traffic Safety Agency, the stopping distance of a train travelling at 100 kilometres per hour is approximately one kilometre.
The first such systems in Slovenia
The company COPS Systems (the company changed its previous name of Aktivna signalizacija Korun in February), in cooperation with Zavarovalnica Triglav and Slovenian municipalities that successfully applied to a public call, commenced with the installation of COPS@rail systems on 12 road sections that cross railway lines and are passively protected with St Andrew’s cross signs. These are the first such warning systems in Slovenia. They alert drivers to level crossings, warn them to stop and exercise greater caution when crossing the tracks, and, based on traffic statistics recorded by the system units, enable further measures to increase safety and optimise the regulation of traffic.
The COPS@rail system units detect approaching vehicles and alert them with flashing lights to potential danger when crossing the tracks. At each crossing, two system units are set up, one on each side. Each unit consists of sensors, a contrast backboard and yellow flashing lights. The system also detects at what speed vehicles are approaching and if they do not slow down, it warns them with more frequent flashes. “The crossings with the installed warning systems are often dangerous for local people and for drivers unfamiliar with the road or drivers who use the road only occasionally or where due to poor weather conditions or limited infrastructure they may not realise they are approaching a railway crossing,” explains Peter Korun from COPS Systems, adding, “By taking various measures and developing products, COPS Systems is contributing to safer road sections and thus reducing the risk of traffic accidents. We are pleased to be working with Zavarovalnica Triglav for a third consecutive season, and together we are striving to lower the number of traffic accidents in Slovenia.”
Accidents happen.
Every train collision affects the locals who reside in the immediate vicinity of the scene. Justifiably, issues are often raised regarding railway crossings that are protected only by means of a St. Andrew’s cross, especially when they are used by school-age children and the elderly.
Firefighters from the Trebnje Association of Firefighters have responded to collisions at railway crossings in the past. The consequences of some were injuries, while others even resulted in death, but substantial material damage was always caused. The Trebnje firefighters have noticed that the two most common causes of collisions at railway crossings are obstructed visibility along the longitudinal axis of the railway and individuals’ carelessness. “For these reasons, paying attention is crucial whether you are crossing the railway on foot or by car. In addition to being very careful when crossing an unprotected railway crossing, you must always make sure that you can cross safely before walking onto or driving across the railway crossing,” advises firefighter Anton Strah.
Five COPS@rail systems already installed
The residents of the Municipalities of Novo Mesto, Mokronog–Trebelno, Straža, Metlika and Trebnje already boast the first installed COPS@rail units. All these municipalities have been taking measures to improve road safety, but as Mayor of the Municipality of Metlika Darko Zevnik points out, “The municipality never has sufficient funds to fully meet all people’s wishes or address all of our needs, which is why such public calls are a godsend.” The Mayor of the Municipality of Novo Mesto, Gregor Macedoni, agrees: “We believe that by using this new system, the likelihood of traffic collisions will be reduced in the future. This is therefore an important step towards safer roads in our municipality.”
“The railway crossing at the location we registered at the public call is protected only with a St. Andrew’s cross. The likelihood of collisions here is high due to the lush vegetation where the road crosses the railway. The road is also frequently used because it considerably shortens travel time for residents and other road users going in the direction of Trebnje and Mirna. Visibility is very obstructed at this location. We are pleased to be partnered with and co-financed by Zavarovalnica Triglav for the COPS@rail system. We truly believe that because of the installation of the system, drivers will approach the railway crossing more carefully and in doing so increase the safety of all road users on this section of the road,” said Alojzij Kastelic, Mayor of the Municipality of Trebnje.
Working together to improve road safety
By improving the layout of road sections that cross railway lines in several Slovenian municipalities, the new season of "Working together to promote improved traffic safety" began. This is a project that COPS Systems and Zavarovalnica Trigav have been carrying out together since 2014. “Given the consequences of traffic accidents on road sections that cross railway lines, and in the desire to contribute to greater safety in this area, we began organising sections where road users are exposed to the risk of severe injury,” explained David Toporš, head of the Novo Mesto Regional Unit of Zavarovalnica Triglav, adding, “At Triglav we are proud of the project results recorded so far, since together with our partners and Slovenian municipalities we have increased safety on 24 dangerous sections of road – crossroads, underpasses, bridges and other locations across Slovenia. We believe that together we can achieve great results in increasing the safety of road users on dangerous road sections.”
The following municipalities have successfully applied to the public call for the installation of COPS@rail systems: Novo Mesto, Mokronog–Trebelno, Straža, Metlika, Trebnje, Žalec, Šmartno ob Paki, Domžale, Kamnik, Podvelka, Središče ob Dravi and Sežana.
