Yes for low-cost alternative for railway gates

Yet another tragic accident at a railway crossing, this time in Wadduwa, has brought in to focus the need for a quick, effective and a low-cost solution to this deadly problem. The presence of a speed-breaker no doubt would have prevented this accident where the warning given by the rail-gate keeper was not heeded.

Readers will recall that the writer’s several letters to the press on this proposal were published as far back as from year 2013. Most of these letters were forwarded to GMR and the relevant authorities without even an acknowledgement.

The writer also sent this proposal to the Ministry of Higher Education which was conducting a contest to select the best low cost, effective proposal to prevent accidents at railway crossings. Though it was acknowledged, the entire project seems to have got derailed somewhere.

Recently, I noted with delight from the press that the Railway Dept. has initiated the installation of ‘humps’ at railway crossings and I myself encountered one during a trip to Hatton. On further inquiry from the Dept. I learnt that while they have planned to install 250 ‘humps’ at selected unprotected crossings, work has already been completed on the stretch between Ragama and Negombo.

I publicly convey my heartfelt appreciation for the ‘never-too-late’ bold step taken by the GMR and the Railway Dept. to forge ahead. I also hasten to thank the press for the due publicity given to my proposal.

Let me add that the process could be accelerated if undertaken with the assistance of the island-wide local Govt. authorities. Proper and standardised instructions should however be provided by the Railway Dept. to make the ‘humps’ look as effective warning/alert signals for motorists to slow down their vehicle to a virtual halt. 

For example, the ‘humps’ should be painted with luminous red colour carrying the words ‘Danger – Railway crossing ahead’ in large white/black lettering so that it will draw special attention of those motorists who are strangers to the area, even during night time.

I note from the press that according to a senior DIG, the driver’s recklessness has been the cause more than whether the crossing was protected or not. Also, according to Railway sources, it is practically difficult to install full barriers where the roads are very broad. Further, the funding and high cost of maintenance have constantly discouraged the authorities in a financially-drained economy to install high-cost gates at every single crossing.

In the circumstances, the effective, low-cost and maintenance free ‘hump’ or the ‘sleeping-policeman’ provides the ideal remedy to overcome all three aforesaid problems.

As regards, mechanical solutions, it is pertinent to recall a quote of a villager from Wanwasala who said: “No one can rely on that bell. Sometimes when it rains heavily, it rings continuously till someone fixes it. Anyway, motorists with their shutters closed and the radio on wouldn’t hear the bell.” 

This clearly shows the inherent drawbacks of such high-cost, technical solutions which cannot adequately warn the motorists who sometimes are really reckless and negligent. Thus, the best option is not to rely fully on audio or visual warnings but to virtually force the motorists to either stop or slow down.

Considering the alertness shown by the motoring public towards the existing ‘humps’ at abundant locations in Sri Lanka, I am confident that this pilot-project will lead to installation of ‘sleeping policemen’ at all unprotected railway crossings in the island except those where sharp bends are encountered.

Bernard Fernando,

Moratuwa