[Fatal accidents at train intersections in Denmark]

Material was collected concerning fatal level-crossing accidents in Denmark during the period 1.1.1980 to 31.12.1987. The epidemiological and traumatic circumstances are illustrated. A total of 51 fatal level-crossing accidents occurred which corresponds to 1% of all the annual traffic deaths in Denmark. The majority of the accidents occurred in good weather conditions and between 12 noon and 3.59 pm. Single-person accidents constituted 75%. The majority of the persons killed belonged to the local population and were familiar with the local conditions. The majority of the accidents were the local conditions. The majority of the accidents were due to poor visual conditions and lack of attention. In level-crossings with a keeper, the commonest causes were blinding by the sun and fog. The majority of the accidents occurred in level-crossings marked by light and sound signals. The risk for accidents in these crossings is six times as great as in crossings with half barriers. Private cars were most frequently involved and the persons killed in these died of head and cerebral injuries because the train buffers hit them at head height. Derailing of the trains was only seen on three occasions where the obstructing vehicles were heavy lorries. The fact that more derailings did not occur must be due to the low rate of the trains in the railway sidings where the majority of accidents occurred. A few proposals are made for prophylactic measures.