ITS Expert: Level Crossings Are Not an Effective Solution to Prevent Accidents

Surabaya - A land transportation expert from Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember (ITS) Surabaya, Prof Hera Widyastuti, stated that non-level railway crossings are an effective solution to curb accidents following the incident near Bekasi Timur Station that resulted in fatalities. “Level crossings have weaknesses from a geometric perspective,” said Prof Hera in Surabaya on Thursday. “Panic while climbing can cause drivers to shift gears incorrectly, risking the car engine stalling right on the tracks,” she added. Besides geometric factors, she highlighted that level crossings heavily depend on road users’ compliance and the functionality of the gates. However, heavy train category trains can travel at up to 110 kilometres per hour and require a long braking distance, making it impossible to stop suddenly. “Level crossings will always be a high-risk point as long as there is direct interaction between vehicle traffic and train movement,” she said. As a long-term solution, Hera encourages the construction of non-level crossings, whether in the form of overpasses or underpasses, to completely separate motor vehicles from trains. “If we want to avoid direct collisions, non-level crossings are the main answer,” said Hera. In Surabaya, the urgency of building such infrastructure is increasing with plans to operate the Surabaya Regional Railways Line (SRRL), which will connect Surabaya City with surrounding areas, with predicted denser train frequencies. “It is time for us to guide this transition so that level crossings, especially in densely populated areas, are quickly eliminated for collective safety,” she concluded.