Level Crossings: Recurring Tragedies, Safety Remains Fragile in Indonesia

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com – An accident at a level crossing has occurred again, including an incident involving a taxi and a train in Bekasi. This event is not merely a single occurrence but an indicator of a deeper problem: safety at the intersection of roads and rails remains fragile. In such conditions, there is no system that actively prevents vehicles from crossing when a train is approaching, so the risk falls entirely on the driver. Data from the Directorate General of Railways shows that the number of unguarded and unofficial crossings still dominates. On Java Island, unguarded crossings far outnumber those that are guarded. Meanwhile, in Sumatra, unofficial crossings are the most prevalent. This situation demonstrates that the safety issue at level crossings is not only related to the behaviour of road users but also to infrastructure disparities. Transportation observer Djoko Setijowarno assesses that accidents at level crossings are fundamentally part of road traffic accidents. “If an accident occurs at a crossing, it falls under the category of road accidents, not train accidents,” he told Kompas.com on Wednesday (29/4/2026). He also highlighted the imbalance in attention to safety. According to him, train accidents often receive major spotlight, while road accidents that happen every day go unnoticed. “Every day more than 80 people die on the roads, but it often does not receive serious attention,” said Djoko. “The issue is how far the state truly places safety as a priority,” he stated.