Opinion – Railways not responsible for mishaps
Much productive time and money is being spent by the media on the subject mishaps at railway crossings. The railway is an important part of life of any nation for transport of people and goods.
Why are there barriers or warning signs on approach to railway lines? Because the railway has priority over road traffic and people.
A railway engine pulls hundreds of tons at speed and needs to go a long distance to be brought to a halt. That is why warning signs are there. There are many mishaps reported at rail crossings.
All the time it is the fault of those hit by the train. A train cannot hit a vehicle, person or any other objet unless it or he/she is in the path of an oncoming train. How often are there trains moving on tracks of this country?
Hardly any, other than for peak hours. Most crossings are only across one track. Yet so many mishaps. This shows how illiterate and irresponsible our people are.
If someone or something is hit by a train a lot of noise is made little realising the vehicle or person is to be blamed, but the Railway authority is blamed for the mishap. All the time it is the fault of a person, not the Railway Authority.
Even in G7 there are unprotected rail crossings. Warning will be a bell or a flashing light. Sometimes there are only warning signs. If people are hit by a train and survive, they should be charged for attempted suicide.
Same with the drivers of vehicles, if they survive, they too should be charged for attempt of suicide and homicide as their negligence caused the mishap and a delay to 500 or more passengers travelling in the train.
One shortcoming observed is, permanent structures are allowed to be built at the approach to rail crossings obstructing the driver of the vehicle from seeing an oncoming train.
Most of the time these structures are illegal as they are on railway property. It is high time the Railway authority and politicians took steps to get rid of illegal structures that obstruct the vision of the track.
Then 50 per cent of the mishaps caused can be reduced. Having barriers, guardsmen will help but it is the responsibility of those crossing a rail line to ensure their own safety. It is not the responsibility of the railway authority.
Source: Daily News
Tags: attempted suicide, homicide, illegal structures, mishaps, negligence, oncoming train, peak hours, railway crossings, railway engine, railway lines, road traffic, time and money, warning signs
