(Jakarta 20/5) - As a preventive measure to reduce accidents at level crossings, the Directorate General of Railways (DJKA) has issued Circular Letter (SE) Number: KP.004/1/23/DJKA/2022 concerning Improvement of Safety at Level Crosses which was released on April 25, 2022. In addition, the fact that level crossings are accident-prone points that cause fatality risks, the background for the enactment of this Circular Letter is the high mobility of the community and the volume of vehicular traffic as well as the condition of increasing the frequency and speed of trains. The Director of Railway Safety, Edi Nursalam, on occasion said that during the Lebaran transportation period in 2022, there were no train accidents, "We informed you that during the previous Eid Transport in 2022, we had zero accidents, so there were no train accidents, but there were still accidents at crossings. Even though there were a number of accidents, it's decreasing this year because accidents at the crossing are not included in train accidents but traffic accidents," said Edi.

Edi also explained that in the follow-up to support this circular letter, several efforts to improve safety at level crossings have been intensively carried out by DJKA, especially before the Lebaran Transport in Year 2022. “The Directorate of Railway Safety has conducted roadshows to various Java regions to socialize SE concerning Improvement of Safety at Level Crosses. Alhamdulillah, we have received appreciation and support from the community and local governments. With the socialization efforts that we have done, it has indirectly had a major impact on reducing the rate of accidents at level crossings during the Eid Transportation period 2022”, said Edi.

“From 4,900 crossings that currently exist in Indonesia, 65% of them are unguarded crossings, and as many as 1,037 are illegal crossings. So with the condition of unattended crossings, of course, they have the potential to cause accidents. We prioritize approaching the local government in certain areas, especially where there are many unguarded and illegal crossings, so the local government can manage or even close it. Because there are only two alternatives that can be done in handling level crossings, managed or closed,” said Edi.

Based on the Regulation of the Minister of Transportation Number 94 of 2018 concerning Improving the Safety of Level Crosses between Railroads and Roads, Edi stated that the Regional Government has the authority to manage level crossings in its territory. "The level crossing is the meeting point of two modes, the train and highway modes. Here there are two different rules; the first is the Law. No. 23 of 2007 concerning Railways, the second Law no. 22 of 2009 concerning Road Traffic and Transportation, must be implemented with different stakeholders because the organizers are different. It's been a grey area, who manages the crossing. Suppose from the side of road user safety, the party that manages it should be the local government, but here, of course, requires collaboration and collaborative efforts from all stakeholders, including the community itself as road users, the primary key to Avoiding accidents, especially at level crossings, is discipline. In that case, if we all become disciplined drivers by obeying all the signs and regulations at the crossing, we will most likely be safe," concluded Edi.

The contents of this Circular Number: KP.004/1/23/DJKA/2022 include, among others, conducting periodic evaluations of the safety performance of level crossings; Improving supervision, socialization and education to people who use level crossings; Equip safety facilities at level crossings; Placing officers at unattended level crossings; Closing unguarded level crossings that are prone to accidents and/or cause accidents; Implement road traffic engineering management, to reduce risk at level crossings. (JM)