{
    "success": true,
    "data": {
        "id": 1708959,
        "msgid": "frequent-fatalities-make-railway-crossings-high-risk-points-1777467167",
        "date": "2026-04-29 18:41:00",
        "title": "Frequent Fatalities Make Railway Crossings High-Risk Points",
        "author": "Azwar Ferdian",
        "source": "KOMPAS",
        "tags": "",
        "topic": "Infrastructure",
        "summary": "Recent accidents at level crossings in Indonesia, including a taxi-train collision in Bekasi, highlight the dangers of these intersections where roads meet railway tracks. Transportation expert Djoko Setijowarno points to inadequate infrastructure, such as the lack of barriers and guards at many crossings, combined with drivers' low awareness and discipline, as key factors contributing to these preventable tragedies, which he metaphorically calls \"arisan nyawa\" or death lotteries. With daily road fatalities reaching 70-80 and annual national traffic death tolls in the tens of thousands, urgent improvements in safety measures and public education are essential to mitigate risks.",
        "content": "<p>Accidents at level crossings have once again captured public\nattention, including the incident involving a taxi and a train in Bekasi\nsome time ago. This event underscores that the meeting point between\nroads and railway tracks is not merely an ordinary intersection but a\nhigh-risk area demanding extra vigilance from every driver.\nTransportation observer Djoko Setijowarno assesses that accidents at\nlevel crossings are not solely a railway issue but part of broader road\ntraffic accidents. Moreover, many level crossings in Indonesia remain\nunequipped with barriers or guarding personnel. In such conditions,\nthere is no active system to stop vehicles when a train is passing. This\nsituation makes driver discipline the last line of safety defence that\ncannot be compromised. However, conditions in the field often show the\nopposite. Not a few drivers continue to proceed even when the space\nahead is not fully clear, or stop right on the tracks during queues.\nThis habit is often taken lightly, yet it has fatal potential if the\nvehicle cannot move promptly when a train arrives. Djoko emphasises that\nlevel crossings become hazardous points due to the combination of\ninfrastructure limitations and low road user awareness. He even\ndescribes this phenomenon as \u201carisan nyawa\u201d, illustrating the risk of\naccidents that can happen at any time. \u201cThe issue is how much this\ncountry cares about safety. Yet every day around 70 to 80 people die on\nthe roads,\u201d he said. This figure aligns with national traffic accident\ndata showing tens of thousands of fatalities each year. In the context\nof driving, the basic principle to hold onto is actually simple: ensure\nthe path is completely safe before crossing, and never enter the rail\narea if there is not enough space to exit fully. Drivers are also\nrequired to be more sensitive to surrounding signs, such as train horns\nor rail vibrations indicating an approaching train. Ultimately, safety\nat level crossings does not solely depend on the presence or absence of\nbarriers. Without driver discipline, the risks will persist.<\/p>",
        "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/frequent-fatalities-make-railway-crossings-high-risk-points-1777467167",
        "image": ""
    },
    "sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
    "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}