1http://ec.europa.eu/roadsafety European Commission Workshop on Level Crossing Safety Tallinn - 16 March 2011 Timo Aaltonen European Commission, Directorate General for Mobility and Transport Unit for Road Safety and Transport of Dangerous Goods

2http://ec.europa.eu/roadsafety Opening remarks EU policies on road safety; Policy orientations for 2011 – 2010; Level crossing safety; Objectives for the day ahead; Further information.

3http://ec.europa.eu/roadsafety EU policies on road safety Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, Article 91(1)(c) White Paper on Transport (2001) European Road Safety Action Programme ( ) Halving the number of victims by 2010 A shared responsibility An integrated approach

4http://ec.europa.eu/roadsafety Fatalities in EU27 fatalities / year --- EU27 target for 2010 (-50%)

5http://ec.europa.eu/roadsafety Policy orientations on road safety , COM(2010)389 of 20 July 2010 The policy orientations emphasise seven strategic objectives: 1. Improve education and training of road users 2. Increase compliance with road traffic rules 3. Safer road infrastructure 4. Safer vehicles 5. Promote the use of modern technology to improve road safety 6. Improve emergency and post-care services 7. Improve safety of vulnerable road users

6http://ec.europa.eu/roadsafety Level crossing safety Some initial observations: 1. Practically always the road user is at fault in legal terms; 2. Given the size and weight difference between the train and the road user such accidents are often fatal for the road user; 3. The train driver has very limited margin for action; 4. A range of solutions using new or improved infrastructure exist, but the approaches regarding investment decisions differ from country to country, sometimes even between regions; 5. Other solutions, such as information campaigns, stricter enforcement and proper maintenance of level crossing could help reducing accidents.

7http://ec.europa.eu/roadsafety Objectives for the day ahead Today we are in a workshop configuration, and we should seek to: 1.Share openly our experiences, both good and bad; 2.Listen openly with a view on how to benefit from the work already done by others; and 3.Consider how we could best use the resources available to us to invest them in actions resulting in a maximum reduction of fatalities and accidents.

8http://ec.europa.eu/roadsafety Further information Commission transport website: Shortcut to the road safety section: