Safety in public transport as a valuable asset

The Safety Division deals with all safety issues affecting public transport.

Under the leadership of Pieter Zeilstra, the Environment, Civil Engineering, Safety Engineering, Electrical Installations, Vehicles, Railway Operations, Safety Supervision, Navigation and Cableway Systems sections support the Director and the other Divisions and Sections of the Federal Office of Transport on all safety-related matters. To ensure the continuing high safety level of public transport, the Safety Division draws up the necessary foundations and adapts them continually to new demands and technological progress. It monitors whether the projects submitted to the FOT comply with safety regulations. It also monitors whether transport companies observe the applicable safety regulations. Should there be a case in which safety can no longer being ensured, the Division imposes conditions and enforces additional safety measures where necessary.

The main tasks of the Environment Section are to minimise risks that may result from the transport of dangerous goods, and to remediate contaminated sites. The Vehicles Section evaluates the safety aspects of railway vehicles and buses. The Cableway Systems Section ensures that the applicable safety and operating requirements for cableways are met. The Civil Engineering, Electrical Installations and Safety Engineering Sections play an important role in FOT decisions concerning train control systems, telematics, high-voltage systems, and collision avoidance systems.

Safety is not reserved to project planning for new installations or the construction of new vehicles: the Safety Supervision Section also supervises the transport companies during the operating phase. It monitors whether the required safety standards are being observed, and whether the companies are using technical products that could endanger public transport safety. The Railway Operations Section deals with operative matters including the operating regulations, which are binding for all railway companies in public transport. The Navigation Section ensures safe transport on water. It is also responsible for most international concerns of Rhine navigation.