Railway crossings, accidents and crossing guards
Much time and money is being devoted by the media to the subject of mishaps occurring at railway crossings.
Why are there barriers or warnings signs on the approach to railway lines? It is because the railway has priority over all other forms of traffic. A railway engine pulls hundreds of tons at speed and requires time and distance to come to a halt. That is why warning signs are placed at crossings.
It is invariably the fault of those hit by a train. A train cannot knock a vehicle, person or any object unless they are in its oncoming path. How often are there trains moving on the trains? Other than during peak hours, trains are not on the move. Most crossings have only one track, yet there are many mishaps. This shows how illiterate, irresponsible and safety conscious our people are!
Mishap
If someone or something is hit by a train a lot of noise is made in the media, little realising that the vehicle or person is the culprit. But unfortunately in this country the railway authority is blamed for any mishaps on grounds that the crossings were unprotected, etc., whereas most of the time it is the fault or guilt of a person, not the railway authority.
Even in developed countries, there are unprotected railway crossings. Warnings are sounded by a bell or a flashing light. Sometimes there are only warning signs. If someone is hit by a train and survives, he or she should be charged for attempted suicide. It is the same with drivers of vehicles; if they service they too should be charged for attempted suicide and homicide. Death or injury and delay to 500 or more passengers travelling in the train hoping to arrive at their destination on schedule should be treated with utmost disdain. What a disaster will be caused if a train moves off the track due to an obstruction on the track? Nobody speaks about that!
A singular shortcoming that is observed is that permanent structures are allowed to be built at the approach to rail crossings preventing the drivers of vehicles attempting to cross the rail track from seeing an oncoming train. Most of the time, these structures are illegal as they are built on railway property. It is high time the railway authority, police and politicians took steps to get rid of these structures that obstruct vision of the track. 50% of the mishaps caused can be reduced this way.
Having barriers and guards will help, but it is the responsibility of those crossing a railway line to ensure their own safety. That is not the responsibility of the railway authority!
By Tissa Jayaweera
Source: Lakbima News
Tags: accidents, attempted suicide, disaster, mishaps, oncoming train, passengers, peak hours, railway crossing, railway crossings, railway engine, railway lines, shortcoming, traffic, trains, warning signs
