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Thursday 15 Jun 2023

Scotland’s Railway works with agriculture and industry to raise level crossing awareness

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Scotland’s Railway: Scotland

Today (Thursday 15 June), Scotland’s Railway staff will visit businesses, community groups, schools and delivery depots to drop in leaflets and start conversations about level crossing safety as part of International Level Crossing Awareness Day (ILCAD).

Every year since 2009, the railway industry – working with road authorities, academics, police and other partners – come together for ILCAD to raise awareness about level crossing safety.

This year’s theme is focused on agricultural and industrial crossing users, with the slogan “Tracks are for Trains!”.

Although safety at level crossings is promoted throughout the year by Scotland’s Railway, ILCAD is used to reinforce the message regionally, to highlight crossings that see misuse or have the potential to be used incorrectly.

In the lead up to ILCAD, Scotland’s Railway level crossing managers visited crossings which tied into this theme, such as Brasswell (near Dumfries), Cardross (near Helensburgh) and Kirkton of Kinellar (near the new Kintore station in Aberdeenshire) to record safety messages for social media.

Within these videos, each manager also touches upon different aspects of their job, making it clear that safety is their number one priority for all level crossing users.

International Level Crossing Awareness Day (ILCAD), signifies the start of Scotland’s Railway Summer of Safety campaign.

The campaign will see the launch of safety partnerships in Scotland’s communities, attendance at summer shows and events, and promotion of rail industry events including Rail Safety Week (26 June-2 July) and a national trespass campaign.

The railway will also promote safe level crossing use to caravan associations, delivery depots and haulage companies.

Innis Keith, Health, Safety and Environment Director for Scotland’s Railway, said: “User safety at level crossings is a priority. One distraction can cause serious harm and it is vital that everyone knows how to use crossings correctly.

“We take pride in working alongside the British Transport Police and other stakeholders to spread our safety message and are constantly evaluating our level crossings to further enhance safety at these locations.”