NRC, Lagos govt, others mark int’l level crossing awareness day

NRC, Lagos govt, others mark int’l level crossing awareness day

Nigeria will today June 15, 2023 mark the International Level Crossing Awareness Day (ILCAD) and the International Trespass Awareness Day (TRESPAD).

Convened by Transport Day, in collaboration with the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), the ILCAD and TRESPAD will be marked with a symposium and a level crossing activity where handbills will be distributed.

The symposium, holding in Lagos, will be graced by industry stakeholders among them being the Managing Director of the NRC, Mr. Fidet Okhiria, the Lagos State Ministry of Transportation, the Director General of the Lagos State Safety Commission, the management of Nexant Consulting, a safety expert, Bola Edwards.

A report by Transport Day says the International Level Crossing Awareness Day (ILCAD) and International Trespassing Awareness Day are part of the UN Decade of Action for Road Safety since 2010 and 2022 respectively, and are part of worldwide initiative to improve awareness on Railway Safety.

The campaign has been spearheaded by the International Union of Railways (UIC), the worldwide railway organisation. Transport Day is the Nigeria affiliate for the campaigns.

It quotes François Davenne, UIC’s Director General, as saying, “Rail safety is the backbone of keeping our trains and passengers running safely and ensuring safe working conditions for train crews. Level crossing collisions, rail trespassing and suicides are the leading causes of death in the rail industry. That is why we are particularly proud to have spearheaded ILCAD, a public awareness campaign on level crossing safety, launched in 2009 first in Europe and then extended to all five continents.

“In 2022, UIC launched a second campaign called TRESPAD to address trespassing on railway tracks. Not only our members, but also road safety advocates, academics, and researchers will participate in our official launch conferences in Warsaw and/or conduct safety awareness activities in their own countries during ILCAD.”