Freedom is the possibility of indipendent action, the possibility of Human self-determination. Freedom refers, in a general sense, to the claim to be „free“ (unlimited, uncaptured).
Freedom of choice and decision becomes a premise of real freedom. But it also implies the responsibilities that such freedom brings.
Freedom FROM vs. freedom FOR safety
What is “freedom FOR ASFETY’?
Freedom FROM safety: freedom from responsibility and empathy means recognizing only road users as the cause of accidents at level crossings.
Freedom FOR safety: freedom for responsibility and empathy in traffic. Recognizing road users as imperfect beings which make mistakes. Road users should educate from an early age to minimize traffic mistakes. Also should raise the awareness of traffic planners or creators about the sources of danger at level crossings.
Globalization and traffic integration
The world has become a global village, and the European Union has an increasing number of member countries.
We think that without traffic integration, there is no global village. The European rail network is being integrated, carriers are integrated (air, road, sea, rail), and public passenger transport is developing with integration through passenger terminals (airports, railway stations and bus terminals). The quality of the transport service is improved through Intermodal transport
ILCAD is integrated, too. From Europe to the east and west of the world. Today we are in Argentina.
The safety of level crossings is not integrated
Legal frameworks are separated:
- Railway safety – Legal frameworks and Operational programs
- Road safety – Separate frameworks and National Road Traffic Safety Plan
That was reason why we used method “Generating a hypothesis using a quadrant” with four scenarios, four stories, one choice
Four scenarios are:
Scenario 1 – The causes of accidents at LC’s and the responsibility of road users are recognized. Statistics: from 5 to 10 fatalities and up to 20 seriously injured persons per year.
In the last 25 years, by railways, preventive educational actions have been held over 300 schools and 40,000 students, and over 150 LC’s and 10,000 road users. Great effort and work, but minimal positive progress
Scenario 2 – Long-term plans are being made for the modernization of LC’s, but the responsibility shifts to road users. Accidents still happen.
Scenario 3 – Occasional checks at LC’s by the Police, but the responsibility remains with the railway companies. Accidents still happen.
Scenario 4 – Freedom FOR integrated safety at LC’s – the right choice:
- The Law on Safety and Interoperability of the Railway System regulates level crossings.
- Road participants come to the area of railway infrastructure through:
- Traffic flows – road vehicles at LC’s
- Pedestrian and bicycle flows – at LC’s
- Pedestrian flows – trespassing
- Individual access for pedestrians ‘cs of the attractiveness of the railway – walking on the track and adventure activities on the infrastructure and vehicles.
QUESTION: How to connect all 9 dots in 4 moves with unbreaking line?
We can’t solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them – Albert Einstein
Road traffic as a starting point of research – source of danger
The National Road Traffic Safety Plan (NRTSP) until 2050 covers of the following types of activities:
- Improving the safety of infrastructure and road vehicles
- Research work
- Preventive educational actions
- Legal framework and 13 areas.
The integration of safety through the NRTSP.
SGI activities – 5 years of work
ILCAD topics – educational activities for future planners and safety managers
Plan
We have plan for 2025: Student handbook on integrated road and rail safety
Safety integration at LC’s includes:
- Education of traffic planners and creators
- New Legal framework – recognition of the connection between road and rail flows
- Researching the behavior of road users at LC’s (LC, Trespass, adventure visits), not just analyzing accidents on LC’s – research on sources of danger at LC’s
