Slovak police reported the results of an international Rail Safety Week operation held from Sept. 21 to Monday, Sept. 28. Police Corps spokeswoman Lea Vilhanová said 592 officers took part, checking railway crossings, stations and critical infrastructure sites.
Officers carried out more than 1,000 checks at railway crossings and examined 1,674 people and 1,078 motor vehicles. They found 118 people crossing tracks where it was prohibited. The operation recorded 604 administrative offences in total, most involving railway or road rules, including illegal track crossings and failure to obey traffic signs.
Police conducted 939 breath tests on drivers and cyclists. Two tests among motor-vehicle drivers and three among cyclists were positive. Tests of train drivers and other railway employees were all negative, according to the spokeswoman.
On Sept. 24, officers in Košice saw a person walking on the tracks near the Ťahanovce tunnel while a train heading toward the city was approaching. The person did not respond to police calls. Officers pulled the person away from the tracks, preventing a collision; emergency medical staff then took the person to a health facility.
Police also checked 308 critical infrastructure locations, mainly bridges and tunnels, and held 51 school lectures and other prevention activities. The operation uncovered suspected crimes including counterfeiting or unlawful production of money and securities, theft, and two cases of endangerment under the influence of intoxicating substances. Police also located one person and five items.