Bekasi Tragedy: A Mirror of Our Paradox

However, upon closer examination, such ideas resemble cosmetic solutions rather than substantive answers. In train accidents, the determining factors for safety are far more complex: the speed of the train, the braking system, emergency response, the quality of signalling, and the structural strength of the train itself.

This means that moving women’s carriages to the middle may not significantly reduce the risk to victims. It is even possible that it could create new problems, such as overcrowding at the middle of the platform. If that happens, the safety issues would merely shift forms.

A serious overhaul of the root problems in national transportation safety is needed, one of the crucial aspects being level crossings. For years, these areas have been danger hotspots where the speed of trains meets the density of road traffic.

Data from PT KAI shows that there are still thousands of level crossings, both official and illegal. Not all are properly guarded, and some still lack security facilities. In such conditions, accidents are not surprising events but threats waiting to happen.

Therefore, President Prabowo Subianto’s decision to allocate Rp 4 trillion for building flyovers, tunnels, and improving guarding facilities deserves appreciation. This shows that the state recognises that safety requires major investment and cannot be handled with patchwork approaches.

However, the government’s good intentions must of course be executed carefully. Projects must proceed quickly, on target, and based on a clear risk map. The most dangerous crossing points must be prioritised, not just the easiest locations to work on or the most profitable ones.

Alongside physical construction, modernising signalling systems and procuring more impact-resistant equipment is also important. In many countries, transportation accidents are reduced not only through infrastructure but through continuously updated safety technology. Indonesia must not lag behind in this regard.

But there is one element that is often overlooked: the behaviour of society itself. We too often witness drivers forcing through barriers, stopping on the tracks during traffic jams, cutting queues near crossings, or treating sirens as mere warnings that can still be negotiated.

No matter how advanced the infrastructure is built, safety will remain fragile if a culture of discipline does not grow. Roads are not value-free spaces but shared spaces that demand compliance from everyone. Public education on this matter needs to be carried out consistently and sustainably through schools, media, communities, and law enforcement in the field. Society must continually be reminded that level crossings are not places to take risks.