Transnet Freight Rail (TFR) will mark International Level Crossing Awareness Day on Thursday, June 9, an initiative spearheaded by the International Union of Railways and supported by the worldwide railway community.
The initiative is to improve awareness for level crossing safety and this year’s theme is ‘Trespass and Suicide Prevention’.
International statistics show that over 90% of all fatalities on rail infrastructure involves third parties, mainly trespassers and level crossing users.
From 2017 to date, TFR has recorded 380 level crossing accidents, which resulted in 102 fatalities; there were 403 fatalities resulting from trespassers being hit by trains and 83 bodies were found lying next to railway lines (either suicides or murders).
These statistics and the immense impact that these incidents had on communities and on railway operations meant that there was a long way to go before we could satisfy ourselves that we had achieved a safe rail environment, said TFR.
Many of these fatalities are completely avoidable.
Motorists, for example, must act safely at a level crossing by adhering to and obeying the rules of level crossings.
A train has right of way on the track and can neither swerve nor bring the train to an instant stop like a motor vehicle
It takes a fully laden goods train at least one kilometre to bring the train to a complete halt.
Trespassing is also illegal and is a punishable offence.
By trespassing, pedestrians place themselves in danger to rail elements like moving trains, trains carrying hazardous material, electrical wiring or the hazards of tripping over obstacles.
TFR conducts ongoing community engagement and educational safety programmes in various areas throughout the country to raise awareness.
On this international awareness day, the company appeals to all South Africans to join it and assist the railway community to reduce the level of operational risks that we face as a nation by obeying the rules that are in place and, in so doing, avoid the tragic consequences of reckless and criminal behaviour.
