Padang-As an extension of the Directorate General of Railways (DJKA), Ministry of Transportation (Kemenhub), the Railway Engineering Center (BTP) Class II Padang initiated and visits several schools in Padang City and Pariaman City to socialize safety at level crossings. This time, it was carried out at SMAN 7 Padang and SDN 16 Cimparuh, Pariaman City, on Friday, 15 December 2023.

These two schools were deliberately chosen to be the location of the socialization of safety at level crossings because the location of the school passes through a railway level crossing. So that the mobility of the community to cross at level crossings is very high.

"Providing knowledge or information about the importance of maintaining safety at level crossings from an early age is very important, given that accidents or train accidents with other vehicles or people at railroad level crossings in West Sumatera are still common." Furthermore, the location of schools that must cross level crossings," said Padang BTP Head Supandi in a statement issued on Friday, 15 December 2023.

According to existing data, there were 30 train temperances in 2023 alone, with as many as 7 deaths, 12 serious injuries, and 14 minor injuries among the victims. There were 14 cases of tempering in 2022.

In the activity entitled Safety Socialization at Level Crossings, "Cultivate BERTEMAN (Berhenti, Tengok Kiri, Kanan, Aman, Jalan) when Crossing Level Crossings," BTP Padang conveyed what level crossings are, what traffic signs are at level crossings, what activities should not be carried out at level crossings, law enforcement, and to echo the BERTEMAN jargon, namely stopping, looking left and right, and being safe to walk when at level crossings.

"One very important thing is BERTEMAN, because it is very easy to implement. "What is required is to continuously raise awareness until it becomes a habit," added the Balai/Office Head.

In addition to the application of BERTEMAN, it is also necessary not to carry out activities that will endanger yourself at the crossing, such as playing cellular phones, not stopping at the 'STOP' sign using earplugs such as headsets, turning the vehicle at the crossing, breaking through the lowered doorstop, stopping at sterile road markings such as yellow boxes, and not complying with other traffic rules.

"Of course, we expect that the message to be conveyed will reach the right target with this type of socialization because the socialization method is tailored to the target's age." Such as socialization with elementary school students, we use lighter language when conveying information, as well as using song media and cartoon displays that many children like to make it easier to digest. Likewise for teenage students by showing footage of several accidents due to public negligence while at level crossings," he added.

On the same occasion, students who had participated in the socialization were also crowned as safety pioneers at level crossings and entered into the Komunitas Cinta Berteman (Ciman).

It is expected that these trailblazing students will be able to share information about level crossing safety with their families, relatives, teachers, and other communities, thereby reducing the number of accidents at level crossings.

BTP Padang Public Relations