Trains of death<\/p>\n
Given the choice, most people would avoid traveling by train
\nin Indonesia these days. It is simply no longer safe to take the
\ntrain. Death awaits you.<\/p>\n
Three accidents on Christmas Day must be the last straw. There
\nhave been other major accidents in recent months of which we
\ncounted 13, involving fatalities and injuries, since April 2000.<\/p>\n
Train accidents now occur too frequently for comfort.<\/p>\n
What are the government and the railway authorities doing
\nabout this? Absolutely zilch.<\/p>\n
The authorities are quick to act after each accident, in
\ndealing with bodies and the injured, and in clearing the tracks
\nto restore railway services. Minister of Transportation Agum
\nGumelar has always made a point of visiting the crash site, of
\nissuing a public apology and of comforting the injured victims.<\/p>\n
But when it comes to improving the safety of passengers, we
\nhave yet to hear anything that gives us reassurance about
\ntraveling by train. On the contrary, things seem to get worse
\neach time. The recent spate of accidents must now make us wonder
\nabout the safety of traveling by train and the government's
\ncommitment to improving passenger safety.<\/p>\n
Unfortunately, for many people in Java, the train is the only
\nmode of transportation available to them, especially those
\nreturning to their home villages to spend Idul Fitri or
\nChristmas\/New Year with their families. It is relatively fast and
\ninexpensive compared with the alternatives.<\/p>\n
It wouldn't surprise us therefore that the train operators
\nwill continue to enjoy booming trade throughout the rest of the
\ncurrent holiday season, in spite of Tuesday's fatal crashes.<\/p>\n
As long as business is booming, the government and the railway
\nauthorities are under no commercial pressure to do anything about
\npassenger safety. Passengers take the train at their own risk.
\nWith the risk of fatal accidents now rising, such an attitude is
\ntantamount to sending people on a train of death. We are no
\nlonger talking about neglect on the part of the government. We
\nare now talking about manslaughter.<\/p>\n
Accidents happen for sure. Most people could accept one or two
\ntrain accidents. Whatever the causes given, human or technical
\nerror, train accidents do occur even in the most advanced nations
\nlike the United States, Japan and the UK. But over there, the
\nauthorities are held accountable for every major accident, and
\nfor the death of passengers. Heads would roll, or those
\nresponsible would voluntarily resign to take the rap.<\/p>\n
In Indonesia, no one is held accountable. No one is fired,
\nexcept the errant drivers or signalmen. And nobody resigns, as
\nsome say it is a very un-Indonesian act to walk away from
\nproblems. (One transportation official who resigned last year was
\napproaching his mandatory retirement age anyway, so he does not
\ncount).<\/p>\n
Precisely because no one is held accountable or no one feels
\naccountable, errors are compounded instead of being rectified
\nafter each accident. This is sheer incompetence, which
\nunfortunately put people's lives in grave danger because
\naccidents are occurring with greater frequency.<\/p>\n
How many more accidents and fatalities will it take before the
\nauthorities get their act together? Perhaps Minister Agum Gumelar
\nwould care to answer that one.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/trains-of-death-1447899208",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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