Last Wednesday, the Agence France Presse, AFP reported a train crash in Argentine where about 30 commuters were reportedly killed and not less than 500 others sustaining various degree of injuries. The crash which occurred after the train's brakes failed as it was arriving at a station had passengers hurled on top of each other, killing some and injuring several others.Just five month earlier the city witnessed a major rail disaster when two trains and a bus collided killing 11 people and injuring more than 200.Only last year July, in Asia, particularly in Eastern China, 39 people were reportedly killed and 210 others injured when a train crashed into another on coming one. With the upcoming train mass transit services in Nigeria, there is the need to pay attention to safety components of our train services, as it will be dangerous to assume that all is well.Close home here, a young lady was crushed to death by a moving train in Osogbo, Osun state, when the driver of a bus she boarded miscalculated and cross the path of a moving train. Aside from the above, there have also been other cases of trains crashing into one another from opposite directions, vehicles crashing into trains and pedestrians being involved in terrifying crashes especially at railway level crossings.We must be safety conscious, and situations where one sees an overcrowded train with commuters on top of the roof should be totally avoided. There is the need for special drives on railway tracks to counsel, educate and improve awareness among commuters and the general public on prevention of crashes along the railway tracks and the railway level crossings.We must ensure that when we are close to unmanned railway level crossings, we reduce our speed and be at alert. As a matter of fact, we must stop our vehicles at the foot of the stop board, and look at either side of the tracks and never to cross when we see an approaching train or hear the sound of one that is approaching.It must be added that it is very dangerous to guess the speed of an approaching train and remember only to cross a railway line when no train is coming. Don't ever cross when the gate is closedand don't compel the gateman to open a closed gate when closed for train movement.A level crossing is the intersection of a road and a railway line and in order to ensure safety in those spots, gates, manually or electrically operated and closable to barricade the road have been introduced. In many countries, Nigeria inclusive, many railway level crossings are left opened, uncontrolled without gates, warning bells or lights, while some are adequately manned and gated.Railway level crossings without gates represent a danger to traffic safety and resulting in many fatal crashes leading to several losses of lives and property.Failure to notice or obey warning signs of an approaching train have also increase, significantly, the risk of collisions between trains and other vehicles at railway level crossings.As for motorists and pedestrians, we should realise that it is a great offence to insist to cross a rail line when the gate is being lowered or when the lights flash signaling the approach of a train. It is dangerous to stop or park or even make a u-turn on a railway level crossing.There is the need for impatient drivers, motorists and pedestrians to have a rethink and show serious concern at the rate of crashes at railway level crossings because the responsibility for road safety at level crossings is in our hands.If you are negligent in crossing a manned or unmanned railway level crossing, you will face the wrath of the law because it is an offence to do so. Don't enter or get down from a moving train while everything must be done by the relevant railway authorities to ensure an accident free train services for our people.
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