Observers Say Accident Rate At Train Crossing Doors Has Increased In The Last 5 Years

Deputy Chairperson of the Central Indonesian Transportation Community (MTI) Empowerment and Development Area, Djoko Setijowarno, said that the total number of accidents at the railway crossing (KA) in the field had increased in the last five years.

"Since 2020 there have been 269 incidents, in 2021 there will be 277 incidents, in 2022 there will be 288 incidents, in 2023 there will be 328 incidents and in 2024 there will be 337 incidents," said Djoko when confirmed by VOI, Sunday, February 23.

From the high number of accidents at level train crossings, there were a total of 1,226 victims during 2020-2024.

"A total of 450 died, 318 were seriously injured and 458 were lightly injured," he said.

Djoko stated that the average number of train accident victims at the crossing within a month reached 24 people.

"The 81 percent accident location occurred at a crossing that was not guarded by track officers (PJL)," he said.

In the last five years, Djoko continued, there have been 1,499 accidents at a level crossing. The 81 percent accident site occurred at an unguarded crossing.

While the type of vehicle affected by 55 percent is a two-wheeled motor type vehicle. Then 45 percent of the affected vehicles are four-wheeled and more.

The number of locomotives running low in 2020 is 490 units, in 2021 there will be 527 units, in 2022 there will be 617 units, in 2023 there will be 660 units and in 2024 there will be 756 units.

The last train and vehicle accidents occurred at the Pondok Jati Station train crossing, Matraman, East Jakarta on Wednesday night, February 19.

PT Kereta Api Indonesia Daerah Operasi (Daop) 1 Jakarta received a report regarding the accident that hit KA 302 (Central Parkel) related to Kampung Bandan Malang.

The pickup truck was run over by a pickup truck loaded with gas cylinders on Jalan Perlantasan Langsung (JPL) No. 46, KM 10+4/5, the upstream route, the Jatinegara route Pasar Senen.

In addition to congestion which was the main cause of the accident, the train bars and sirens also began to be closed because there was a train that would cross the Pondok Jati train track. The panic situation ensued.

Meanwhile, vehicles trapped in the dangerous zone of train crossings still lock or jam, the flow of vehicles cannot flow and is sterile.

Seeing this condition, officers at the Pondok Jati crossing gate raised the red flag before the accident occurred at the Pondok Jati crossing, Matraman.

The red flag is given so that the train can stop because there are dangerous things at the crossing.

According to Septi, volunteers guarding the Pondok Jati train track, officers gave a sign that the train would stop because a number of vehicles were trapped in the middle of the crossing.

"(Masis) The train has been notified of the guard, given a red flag but not stopped. Hit (car) pick up immediately," said Septi, Thursday, February 20.

Before the accident occurred, the crossing gate had not been closed because no train had arrived.

However, when many vehicles crossed the track, then the train was about to arrive and the crossing gate began to be closed.

Meanwhile, at the location there are still many vehicles stuck in traffic.

"His condition is that the vehicle is in the middle (the train route in the crossing area). When he crossed, when there was a train. The closed Cross was already in the train," he said.

The deadly collision that occurred at the railroad crossing (KA) Pondok Jati Station, Palmeriam Village, Matraman District, East Jakarta caused two motorbikes and one pickup truck to be crushed.

As a result of the deadly accident, 4 motorcyclists and cars became victims. The victim with the initials E (15) died, the victim with the initials DI was critical and the two victims with the initials MN (21) and S (40) managed to save themselves