Press Statement dated 14 May 2018
The United National Transport Union (UNTU) mourns the deaths of yet another four people who died when a car collided with a train at the R500 and Carletonville crossing in Magaliesburg near Krugersdorp on the 12th May 2018.
This brings the death toll at level crossings over the past two weeks to eleven. “That is only the incidents that we are aware of, more minor incidents are not even given through to the media,” says Steve Harris, General Secretary of UNTU.
UNTU urges the public, especially pedestrians and drivers, to adhere to the road safety signs issued in terms of the Road Safety Act. “Unfortunately, far too many of our road signs gets stolen or vandalised. Therefor motorist and pedestrians must always stop to check if it is safe before they cross a railway line, irrespective of whether or not there are signs,” says Harris.
UNTU welcomes the efforts of the Railway Safety Regulator (RSR), Transnet and the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (Prasa) who are currently busy with a joint road show to educate communities about the importance of safety at level crossings.
“The Union believes that the Department of Transport and the Department of Education should also come on board with the funding of campaigns on television and radio stations and more aggressive targeting of schools near level crossings. As a Nation we will only be able to combat these incidents by constantly educating communities.
“Accidents at level crossings are deadly and not only for the passengers or pedestrians has the train hit, but also for the train crew on the train,” says Harris.
On 27th April 2018 seven workers died after a train collided with a bakkie at the Buttskop level crossing in Blackheath in Cape Town.
On 4th January 2018 a passenger train collided with a truck on a level crossing at Geneva Station between Hennenman and Kroonstad in the Free State, killing 21 people and injuring 254 people.
“Depending on the speed, a train will only come to a complete standstill when it applies its emergency break procedure within 500 m and 1 km. There is nothing a train driver can do to prevent a collision if a motorist does not take caution,” says Harris.
Issued on behalf of United National Transport Union (UNTU) by Sonja Carstens, Media and Liaison Officer