Vendryně level crossing

Czech railway manager Správa železnic will be watching you (at level crossings)

A level crossing in the Vendryně municipality. 2017, Google Street View

Správa železnic will install cameras at a level crossing in the Vendryně municipality in a bid to reduce dangerous and premature crossings of level crossings by motorists. The installation will become active on February 1 and is expected to be deployed at other crossings in the future.

The move follows the successful completion of a pilot project elsewhere in the Czech Republic last year. Earlier this month, the camera system was approved for use by both the police and Ministry of Transport. The system was found to be capable of function in fog, snow and other weather conditions resulting in poor visibility.

The camera system registers vehicles crossing while the warning signal is still active. If a vehicle attempts to cross, the information will be immediately transferred to the relevant authorities. The offence will see drivers receive points deducted from their license and a fine of up to 5,000 Czech koruna, which is around 210 euros. In the worst case scenario, drivers face a driving ban of up to six months. If the system proves successful in reducing violations in Vendryně, cameras will be deployed at other crossings as well.

Although now for the first time deployed in Czech Republic, this practice is not new in the railway sector. In the Netherlands for example, rail infrastructure manager ProRail has been working with cameras at level crossings for several years. In 2021 it was decided the start a country-wide rollout of cameras, with 39 locations identified in 22 municipalities. A camera system was most recently installed near the city of Utrecht in late November of last year. Fines in the Netherlands for illegal crossings range from 170 for pedestrians to 250 euros for vehicles.

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Author: Nick Augusteijn

Former Chief Editor of RailTech.com

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