Shocking train fatality figures prompt Czech Railways to launch awareness campaign

Last year, a staggering 230 Czechs died when they were hit by a train, either at a level crossing or walking across a railway track. That is compared to some 21 deaths over the same period in Scotland. So far this year, the figures continue to look bleak; 76 people died between January and May, leading the country’s rail operator, Czech Railways, to launch an awareness campaign, showing just how long it takes for a speeding locomotive to come to a halt. Earlier today I met Czech Railways’ Aleš Ondrůj and asked him why so many Czechs were dying on the tracks:

Photo: CTK

“Well it is also a question for us at Czech Railways, because we see several trends and issues. First of all, we see that the majority of deaths are not caused by our operations, by Czech Railways, but by people themselves acting in an inappropriate way. And the second important thing is that the number of fatalities is not going down. It is still very high and it is still something that motivates us to educate people, to tell them that at any time when they are in contact with a railway, then they should act extremely carefully.”

What can you do to stop people from acting in an irresponsible way when they come into contact with railways, for example, from walking on the tracks when they shouldn’t?

“You definitely have both active and passive tools. There was this ‘prevention train’ which was a big active campaign that ran around the country with big media publicity surrounding it. We also did some other events such as demonstrating how long it takes for a train to stop when a driver spots someone walking on a railroad, and what happens when a train crashes into a person. In the past we prepared a billboard campaign warning drivers around the country not to cross the railroad when the red light is on.

“But at the same time we do a lot of passive prevention, such as putting stickers on our trains warning passengers not to get on the train while the train is departing, and not to alight from the train until the train has stopped.”

One of your colleagues said in the past that Czechs very often take big risks around railway tracks and that this is maybe part of a Czech mentality. Do you really think it is a part of the Czech mentality, or do you think it is rather a lack of education about the dangers of walking on the tracks?

“I do not know if it is a part of the Czech mentality, but I do know that it is a part of people’s behaviour. And I would not say that these people do not know that they could be injured or killed when acting in this way. Maybe it is, in part, that it is somehow attractive for people to do something that is forbidden, but the price is really high. The price is your life, or for example, being left handicapped for the rest of your life.”