Motorists warned of level crossing dangers
Level crossing campaig is to sensitise motorists and pedestrians about the dangers of trains and adhering to the necessary safety practices to avoid injuries and deaths.
Transnet Freight Rail (TFR) has once again embarked on its National Level Crossing and Safety Awareness Campaign.
The desire to see safety practices implemented at level crossings was further emphasised through an awareness campaign held at Enstra level crossing at Payneville, on Thursday.
“This is a very busy level crossing which sees many cars crossing by where people cross the railway line, not only at the level crossing but everywhere to go to school, work or shopping centres,” says Joel Maja from TFR.
The campaign focuses primarily on issues including the dangers of trains, crossing railway lines on foot, adhering to level crossing signs and is aimed at reducing and eradicating injuries and deaths arising out of train incidents through focusing on changing behaviours and attitudes of the public.
Maja says this is only the start of a rollout of activities leading to the festive season advocating rail safety.
The campaign was held in partnership with some of its key stakeholders including the Springs police, Gugulethu Community Police Forum and the EMPD.
“It was encouraging to see motorists stopping and listen without hesitation to the short message conveyed while safety pamphlets were issued to them at peak hour.
“We believe in the process several motorists might change their driving behaviour when approaching level crossing for their own safety and fellow passengers,” says Maja.
The total number of vehicles recorded were 542 cars, 284 bakkies, 22 motorcycles, 138 taxis, 15 trucks and five buses.
“We hope this will have a ripple effect to each one exposed to the campaign and will touch many others to put level crossing safety first,” says Maja.
According to TFR spokesperson Mike Asefovitz, there were 52 level crossing incidents reported in 2016.
He says almost all level crossing accidents are a result of the failure of motorists to stop at the clearly demarcated stop signs at level crossing.
“Trains take a long time to stop, even when the driver applies brakes, but a loaded train can take more than a kilometre to stop,” says Asefovitz.
