School transport route planning

A pilot assessment conducted by Ramboll Finland Oy researched and evaluated the Hyvinkää–Hanko section of line level crossings used by school and bus transport routes. Research enabled identification of the most dangerous level crossings and the planning of alternative, safer transport routes. The assessment recommended the performance of similar assessments for other sections of line. The Koululiitu software, which evaluates the dangers of school routes, does not include level crossings, because the road database information used by the software does not contain level crossing information.

When planning school transportation, the municipalities should improve safety by avoiding level crossings without warning devices along the routes.

In its comments on the investigation report, the Association of Finnish Local and Regional Authorities states the following: ”Level crossings can be avoided in school trans-port route planning if alternative route possibilities are available. Attention can be drawn to this in school transport training events, by presenting the assessment on the Hyvinkää–Hanko section of line.” According to Ramboll Finland Oy, the pilot assessment had good results and the school transport safety assessment will continue in 2012 for the Seinäjoki–Kaskinen line section.

A pilot assessment conducted by Ramboll Finland Oy researched and evaluated the Hyvinkää–Hanko section of line level crossings used by school and bus transport routes. Research enabled identification of the most dangerous level crossings and the planning of alternative, safer transport routes. The assessment recommended the performance of similar assessments for other sections of line. The Koululiitu software, which evaluates the dangers of school routes, does not include level crossings, because the road database information used by the software does not contain level crossing information.