Girls put traffic sign on tracks: Train stops at the last second!

Girls put traffic sign on tracks: Train stops at the last second!

On Sunday evening, two 13-year-old girls in Brandenburg an der Havel caused a dangerous incident when they put a traffic sign with a rod on the railway tracks. An ODEG regional train, which at that time promoted 18 passengers, ran over the sign, which prompted the train driver to initiate a danger braking. Fortunately, there was no injured, but the train was damaged by the incident because a coolant tube tore and the vehicle had to be towed.

The passengers were forwarded with taxis, while train traffic was severely affected. Three level crossings automatically closed when the train was expected, but initially remained closed because the train did not go by as planned. Finally, train traffic could be recorded again at 10:15 p.m. without any problems. The girls tried to flee during the incident, but were taken up by the police near the level crossing and brought to their legal guardians. This incident throws a light on the dangers of level crossings in Germany.

level crossings and accident statistics

General information about the risks at level crossings show that accidents with serious consequences often occur here. After a fatal accident in Hamburg in February 2025, in which an ICE passenger was killed and 24 others were injured, Deutsche Bahn (DB) plans to further reduce the number of level crossings. There are currently 15,820 level crossings in Germany, with their number has been reduced by 28,000 since the 1990s. Instead of level crossings, overpasses or underpasses for drivers and pedestrians are increasingly being built.

The number of accidents at level crossings fell by more than 75 % between 1995 and 2023. In 2023 there were 154 accidents nationwide, with over 95 % of the clashes between cars and trains to be due to human failure, such as inattentiveness or recklessness. In order to reduce these dangers, the DB carries out the "Safe" clarification campaign, which informs about the risks of level crossings.

technical security measures

level crossings, which also represent height -like crossings between the street and the rail, are marked with Andreas crosses that grant the rail vehicles priority. It is also known that rail vehicles cannot avoid and have long braking routes. Studies show that over 70 % of the level crossings of the DB are technically secured. However, many transitions are only protected by visual control and acoustic warning signals.

Despite the decline in the number of accidents, the situation at level crossings remains an important topic. Due to the risks and dangers of such places, DB has spent around EUR 170 million annually to secure the level crossings in recent years. The accident statistics and human errors illustrate how Paramount is to improve security on these traffic crossings. A comprehensive program for reducing and securing level crossings was already initiated by the federal government in 1980.

The incident in Brandenburg an der Havel should serve as a serious wake -up call. It is necessary to continue to invest in security campaigns and technical solutions to prevent accidents like this and to raise awareness of the dangers of level crossings. For further information on the risks and security measures at level crossings, the FAZ , n-tv and the Research information system are consulted.