More and more victims of fatal railway accidents are younger than 30: ProRail

An increasing proportion of fatal accidents at level crossings involve young people as victims, ProRail reported. The railway infrastructure manager is launching a nationwide campaign to raise awareness among young people about the dangers. Almost a third of fatal victims between 2021 and 2025 were between the ages of 10 and 29.

According to ProRail, 12 young people died in accidents on and around level crossings over the past five years. In total, there were 37 fatalities during that period. Young people represent just under 33 percent. Five years earlier, this figure was only 17 percent.

In total, there were 155 collisions at level crossings between 2021 and 2025. The figures do not include suicides or attempted suicides by train.

In addition to accidents, the railway operator also records near misses. In 2024, there were 305 near misses at level crossings, up from 173 in 2021.

According to ProRail, the large increase is due in part to level crossing barriers and red lights being ignored too often, and pedestrians underestimating the speed of approaching trains. Haste and impatience are growing factors for dangerous behavior, the railway manager said. Among young people, distraction by phone is also an issue.

ProRail launched an awareness campaign focusing on phones. Titled ‘The Unsent Message,’ the campaign aims to make young people understand how a single moment of inattention can result in a final message never being sent.

Because ProRail hopes to reach young people in particular, the campaign is rolled out on social media like Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, and YouTube.