Every year, millions lose their lives across the world at level crossings. The level crossings are where road and railway tracks intersect. Every year over 6,000 deaths occur in the world at level crossings. Universally level crossing fatalities are but a small percentage of the total number of road fatalities. The highest percentage of the level crossing fatality was reported from Slovenia at just 3.24%. In India, there were 1,788 level crossing accidents in 2019, up from 1,408 in 2018., and among them 1,762 were dead. India had a 1.93 per cent Crossing fatalities
per million population. Around the world, the level crossing deaths rate is increasing alarmingly with each passing year. To raise awareness against this issue and to improve the level of crossing safety the International Level Crossing Awareness Day (ILCAD) is organized annually in June across the world. The ILCAD campaign has been spearheaded by the Union Internationale des Chemins de Fer or the International Union of Railways (UIC), the worldwide railway organization with the support of the railway community worldwide.
Attempt free Aptitude Mock Tests! Download Entri App!
International Level Crossing Awareness Day 2022
A level crossing is an intersection where a railway line crosses a road or an airport runway. Among the railway accidents and fatalities reported around the world, the ones caused at the level crossing has a fair share. On average, each year around 500-700 people are killed in level crossing accidents. Every year, India do report around 1500-2000 level crossing accidents across the country. Even though the fatality rates are less these accidents do cause lots of deaths and loss of properties.
Spearheaded by the International Union of Railways along with several road sector organizations, international institutions like the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), World Transport Organization the ILCAD is a worldwide annual event. ILCAD is a joint commitment that began in 2009 with European Union countries and Israel. Since then, UIC, the global professional association for the railway sector has been coordinating this worldwide event to raise public awareness about the dangers at level crossings.
The International Level Crossing Awareness Day, ILCAD is the result of the success of the very first European Level Crossing Awareness Day held on June 25, 2009, in 28 countries raising public awareness about the safety and vigilance in level crossings. Across the world, nearly 25% of accidents and 2% of deaths are at railway level crossings, making safety awareness a necessary step. In 2021, around 40 countries are participating in the ILCAD campaign, by organizing a range of activities on both online and offline platforms. The International Level Crossing Awareness Day 2021 theme is “distraction” with the motto, “Distraction kills!”
- International Level Crossing Awareness, ILCAD 2021: June 10, 2021
Level crossing Accidents in India
Indian Railways has 64460 route Kilometres making it one of the largest railway network in the world. In a country like India where several unmanned level crossings and thousands of kilometres of rail paths through the human settlements the safety awareness is necessary. In 2019, there were 1,788 level crossing accidents, up from 1,408 in the previous year. During the period of 2010-11 and 2019-20, level crossing-related mishaps accounted for 36 per cent of all fatalities caused by consequential accidents. The number of deaths in 2020 was also alarming. Even though the railway has decided to shut down all unmanned railway crossings, and to improve safety the death rate is yet to bring down.
Attempt free Current Affairs Mock Tests! Download Entri App!
Start your Current Affairs and General Studies preparations today itself with Entri’s free materials. India’s Leading learning Platform, ENTRI will help you with mock tests, study schedule, exam updates, video classes, personal mentorship and discussion forums. Download our free Monthly General Awareness PDFs to boost your test preparations.
