First crossing will start to operate system for automatic punishment of offences

From 1 February, Správa železnic will start full operation of the automated system for recording and evaluating offences at the level crossing in Vendryně near Třinec. The technical solution was prepared within the framework of a pilot project in cooperation with the Directorate of Traffic Police Services and the Municipality of Třinec. Last year, it was successfully tested and its deployment was approved by the Police of the Czech Republic and the Ministry of Transport in January. The automatic camera system will gradually start to supervise the discipline of drivers at other level crossings.

The crossing over the corridor line in Vendryně is protected by warning lights and barriers. Due to frequent disregard of warning signals, Správa železnic has included it among the selected locations where intelligent cameras are to supervise drivers' behaviour. “Thanks to the helpfulness of the Statutory City of Třinec during the verification operation, the project could proceed to its final phase,” says Jiří Svoboda, Director General of Správa železnic, and adds: “We have created and tested a unique solution in Třinec, which meets the current requirements of the police and enables reliable recording and subsequent evaluation of information about offences or crimes completely unattended.”

The cameras at the crossing record the triggering of the warning light and then the passage of each road vehicle, only after a reasonable time has elapsed for the driver to react safely. The documentation of the offence is then transmitted via the Central Service Point to the police servers. The software automatically sorts them and forwards the information on offences involving cars up to 3.5 tonnes to the relevant municipality with extended jurisdiction. “For the driver, such an offence at a level crossing means a record of 7 points in his/her points rating, in addition to which he/she can also be fined up to CZK 5,000 and banned from driving motor vehicles for up to 6 months,” warns Colonel Jiří Zlý, Director of the Traffic Police Service. The funds from the collection of fines will directed to the budgets of the municipalities that will handle the relevant agenda. Violations of the law in the case of a vehicle over 3.5 tonnes will automatically be dealt with by the Traffic Inspectorate of the Police of the Czech Republic.

The cameras conclusively document violations even in fog, snow and other degraded conditions, and they can also detect foreign vehicles. “The software for evaluating and transmitting records is adapted to the public administration information system, which is also used by our municipality. We have been approached by the Police of the Czech Republic and we have come forward to verify the reliability of the functioning of this system, which will contribute to greater traffic safety and protection of the health and lives of citizens,” explains the Mayor of the Statutory City of Třinec Ms. Věra Palkovská.

After the analysis of live traffic in Vendryně, it will be possible to launch the automated system in this form at other selected level crossings. Thus, drivers must count on consistent punishment of entering the level crossing at the time when the warning signal is activated at more places in the future.

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