A woman with a pram was struck by a barrier at Sydney Parade train station in one of three incidents involving pedestrians at automated crossings recorded this year.
Iarnród Éireann, with the Railway Safety Commission and the Road Safety Authority, are highlighting an increase in incidents involving pedestrians and motorists at automated crossings.
So far in 2015 there have been three incidents involving pedestrians and 20 involving motorists at automated crossings.
This compares with zero and 11 respectively in the same period in 2013, and three and 10 in the same period in 2014.
The three people sustained minor injuries in the incidents and the baby in the pram was not injured.
In the second incident, a motorcyclist stopped in a yellow box was hit by a barrier at Sutton level crossing in Dublin.
In the third incident, a woman was struck on the head by a barrier lowering at Bray level crossing in Wicklow.
Comparatively rare
There have been no fatal incidents at level crossings on the Iarnród Éireann network since 2010. Injuries and fatalities at level crossings are comparatively rare in Ireland compared to other European countries.
Iarnród Éireann said areas of misuse and unsafe behaviour at Irish level crossings include:
• Leaving gates open after use at unattended railway level crossings, resulting in risk to other users.
• Motorists and pedestrians rushing to pass through automated crossings, resulting in collisions with crossing gates.
• Users not obeying stop signs and other level crossing signage.
Iarnród Éireann said incidents at unattended railway level crossings have the greatest potential for injury and fatality, and it is imperative that users open gates, check before crossing and always close gates after use.
Unnecessary disruption
It said while the incidents to date have resulted in minor injuries or damage to road vehicles, they have caused unnecessary disruption to services.
Don Cunningham, director of infrastructure management at Iarnród Éireann, said “Almost all collisions at level crossings arise from user behaviour through failing to follow rules of the road.
“There are more distractions than ever before with smartphones and tablets part of our daily lives, but our message is clear - take your time, don’t risk your life, and never take risks around railways,” he said.
Ireland is one of 28 countries in Europe, and one of 42 globally, marking the seventh annual International Level Crossing Awareness Day on Wednesday.