Best practice for level crossing risk assessment

One of the biggest risks on railways across the world is where trains and road vehicles or people both use intersections known as ‘grade or ‘level’ crossings. The international railway community shares best practice through UIC’s Global Level Crossing Network (GLCN) and promotes safe use each year with an International Level Crossing Awareness Day (ILCAD). Other campaigns and the Safer LC toolbox help rail and road authorities to reduce the number of incidents and fatalities at the world’s level crossings.

The UIC Safety Platform proposed that GLCN should identify best practice for risk assessment of grade/level crossings and promote adoption by member railways. This guide provides the best practice identified by that work.

The workstream was completed in two phases:

Phase 1 – Review current global working practices

Phase 2 – Creation of a best practice document

With the help of UIC members, the GLCN has identified “Seven Principles for Risk Assessing Level Crossings” which are highlighted in this document.