Rail crossings remain unsafe

Rail crossings remain unsafe

A crash involving a passenger van and a train in Lop Buri last week proves that a "couldn't care less" attitude remains a major cause of accidents.

Six passengers, including a child, were killed and nine others injured when a van driver went through a rail crossing and collided with a Bangkok-bound passenger train in Phatthana Nikhom district in the early hours of Friday morning, at the start of the Songkran festival.

The crash occurred on the first of the so-called "seven dangerous days".

The van from Bangkok was en route to Ubon Ratchathani when it crashed in the central province about 3am, police said.

According to the van driver, there was no barricade, rail sign or lights at the crossing, so he was not aware there was a rail track ahead and drove onto the track, before hearing the oncoming train's horn.

He tried to accelerate through but could not make it in time.

Another tragedy took place in Surat Thani when a woman and her son were hit by a Yala-Bangkok train at another barricade-free crossing earlier this year.

Barricade-free crossings have been a major threat to public safety for decades.

In 2013, there were nearly 130 crashes at train crossings, causing 27 deaths and nearly 100 injuries. About 80% of these took place at barricade-free crossings. This high number triggered a public outcry, with a call for the State Railway of Thailand (SRT) to take action.

However, the SRT tersely refused to do anything. The agency took the view that these crossings were built by local people, initially for motorcycles, without its permission. Therefore, they are illegal "makeshift" crossings.

As communities expanded, the small crossings for motorcycles were widened to accommodate bigger vehicles, but they are still technically illegal.

The SRT has made it clear that it has no budget to install barricades, warning lights or signs at those spots to make them safer, despite the need for the public to use them. Instead, the agency would rather close all such makeshift crossings.

In most cases, the SRT is not legally required to compensate for the loss of life or damages since the crashes are considered as unintended and unavoidable given the speed of the trains.

But such a stance is not only heartless, but also negligent on the part of the SRT and deserves criticism.

It remains unknown if the SRT has tried to solve the problem, but the crashes in Lop Buri and Surat Thani appear to prove otherwise.

It's true that recklessness on the part of some motorists is to blame for the crashes. Some try to nip through before the train reaches the crossing, for example.

However, it is not deniable that some makeshift crossings are located on sharp corners that make it too difficult for motorists even if they drive carefully.

The matter worsens when travellers who are not local people pass the spot in question as they are not prepared for a train crossing that has no signs or warning lights.

The SRT should alter its stance and adopt a more caring policy focusing on prevention rather than legality.

It goes without saying that the death of innocent people is not acceptable.

According to the Transport Ministry, there are 2,517 rail crossings nationwide. Of the legal ones, 877 are equipped with barriers, and 755 are still waiting to have barriers installed.

In 2014, the SRT planned to install barriers at 130 crossings and build roads underneath the tracks at a further 118 junctions.

With regard to illegal, makeshift crossings, the cash-strapped agency has agreed to work with local organisations, asking the latter to pay for barricades at crossings under their jurisdiction.

The SRT and the ministry should do more to encourage local organisations to contribute.

If a barricade is too expensive, at least they should put up a warning sign, with or without flashing lights, to alert motorists of the upcoming potential for danger.

Editorial

Bangkok Post editorial column

These editorials represent Bangkok Post thoughts about current issues and situations.

Email : anchaleek@bangkokpost.co.th

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