Take care of safety with #YellowNegel PLK

Every mistake a road user makes at a railroad crossing can have disastrous consequences! Moreover, the braking distance of a rushing train is as much as 1300 m, which, figuratively speaking, is equal to 13 lengths of a football field. PKP Polskie Linie Kolejowe SA has been implementing a social campaign called "Safe Crossing" for 16 years, the purpose of which is to increase safety at railway crossings and crossings.

Over the past decade, about 200 accidents occur at railway crossings every year. Although they account for less than 1% of all road traffic accidents, they are still too many. Instant inattention or the desire to save a few minutes cost someone their life or health. Accidents are not only a personal drama, but also disruptions in rail and road traffic, huge costs.

Meanwhile, many Poles still believe that the red light before a railway crossing is only a warning, and not a categorical ban on entry on the way. There are those who believe that slalom riding between abandoned toll booths is a sign of intelligence, not extreme stupidity and irresponsibility. The force with which the locomotive hits the car is comparable to the force with which the car crushes an aluminum can. We can all imagine what happens to an aluminum can that gets run over by a car. Knowing the rules of safety saves lives, which is why it is so important to constantly educate all road users.

# ŻółtaNaklejkaPLK, i.e. lifeline at level crossings

Since 2018, every level crossing in Poland operated by PKP Polskie Linie Kolejowe SA has an additional marking. Inside the crosses of St. Andrey or on the disks of the collected duties there is a so-called. Yellow stickers with three important details: individual 9-digit railroad crossing, emergency number 112 and emergency number.

When to use the yellow PLK sticker? If the car is stuck between the barriers as a result of a malfunction, in the event of an accident and the need to save someone's life, or in a situation where we see an obstacle on the road (for example, a fallen tree), we must immediately call the emergency number 112. In turn , we call the emergency number if we notice a technical problem, such as a broken gate, a damaged sign or a traffic light. When reporting any event, we provide an individual identification number of the railway-road crossing, which is placed on a yellow sticker. This will accurately determine the location and greatly facilitate the further activities of the services.

The numbers speak for themselves

Thanks to the educational activities, trainings and information campaigns carried out, a positive trend can be noted in reducing the number of accidents at railway crossings and the number of victims in such accidents. 

Since 2018, when within the framework of the Safe passage - “The barrier is in danger!” The Yellow Sticker has been introduced, by 2020 the number of accidents and collisions involving vehicles and pedestrians at level crossings and level crossings has decreased by almost 23%. In turn, since the beginning of 2021*, as many as 3329 reactions have been recorded through reports using the Yellow Sticker. As a result, in 215 cases the movement of trains was limited, and in 78 cases it was completely suspended, which minimized the possibility of life-threatening events.

 

*data from 1.01 to 30.06.2021