Ensuring order and safety of railway traffic

Recently, there have been a number of traffic accidents involving railways in the province, causing damage to property, health, and lives of people. Most recently, at around 3:25 p.m. on April 13, 2024, NTN (born in 2012), residing in Lien Ha 7 village, Bao Ha commune (Bao Yen), was driving an electric bicycle from the village's residential road, carrying his younger sister NTBN (born in 2020). When crossing the railway, he collided with a specialized railway vehicle running in the direction of Lao Cai - Yen Bai. The accident caused NTN and NTBN to die on the spot. According to the results of the scene investigation, the Provincial Police determined that the cause was that the two children were moving from Provincial Road 161 across the railway via the residential path but did not pay attention, leading to the collision.

Many people jumped over the fence and approached the railway when the train was running, which was very dangerous.

Previously, at around 7:25 a.m. on April 6, 2024, a car with license plate 24A-154.XX driven by Ms. Nguyen Thi H., born in 1959, carrying Mr. Nguyen Dinh T., born in 1994 and his nephew Nguyen Dinh Bao K., born in 2019 (both permanent residents of Group 14, Bac Lenh Ward, Lao Cai City), while moving from a residential road through a level crossing (intersecting with the railway of Apatit Vietnam One Member Co., Ltd.) collided with the locomotive CK6-03XX (pulling 15 freight cars) driven by Mr. Doan Truong S., born in 1975, permanent resident of Group 10, Pom Han Ward, Lao Cai City. Through inspection, it was determined that the car and train drivers did not violate alcohol concentration. The accident caused no human casualties; The car was damaged, estimated damage of about 4 million dong.

Railway-related accidents show that the knowledge and skills of vehicle drivers when crossing railway crossings are still very limited. In particular, the lack of observation of vehicle drivers when crossing railways is the main cause of railway-related traffic accidents. Handling of train drivers and specialized railway vehicle drivers when encountering unexpected situations and incidents is also very difficult and takes more time than when using road vehicles.

Another potential cause of traffic accidents involving railways is the limited awareness of some people when participating in traffic. According to the reporter's observations, there are many cases of disregard for life, such as walking along the railway (even at night); in particular, at the intersections between roads and railways where there are barriers, some people still deliberately drive motorbikes and electric motorbikes through the barriers to cross the road when the train is near.

Ms. Hoang Thi T., a vendor near the intersection of Hoang Sao Street and the ore transport railway (Pom Han Ward, Lao Cai City) said: There are many cases where motorcyclists deliberately cross the barrier to stand close to the railway, even crossing when the train is almost there. If a collision happens, the consequences will be very serious.

A1 (1).jpg — Road users must strictly obey signs when crossing railways.

Another potential cause of traffic accidents related to railways is the large number of railway crossings and openings to enter and exit residential areas in the province, while the number of residential roads is limited. Up to now, there are 195 railway crossings in the province, including 12 railway crossings and 183 self-opened paths (of the 12 railway crossings, 11 have guards, 1 has a sign; 183 are self-opened paths that have been jointly managed).

It is known that in the past time, the traffic police force of the Provincial Police, the police of districts, towns and cities have coordinated with localities and schools to actively organize propaganda and disseminate legal education on traffic order and safety in general, and railway traffic safety in particular. From 2023 to present, 5 separate propaganda sessions on railway traffic order and safety have been organized at 5 schools; direct propaganda at agencies, businesses and more than 1,000 people living on both sides of the railway, around the stations and train passengers.

At the meeting to review and evaluate the railway traffic accident that occurred in Bao Ha commune, Bao Yen district, comrade Nguyen Trong Hai, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee, requested departments, branches, organizations and localities to step up propaganda and dissemination of laws to raise people's awareness in complying with traffic regulations and rules when crossing level crossings and self-opened paths. Lao Cai city, Bao Thang district, Bao Yen district where railway lines run through need to develop a plan and overall plan to organize the clearance and removal of violations of railway traffic safety corridors and self-opened paths across railways. For self-opened paths that are waiting to be removed, take enhanced measures, such as arranging guards when trains pass, placing warning signs, signs restricting road vehicles, clearing visibility, etc. The authorities will strengthen inspection, control, and strictly handle violations of railway traffic order and safety; timely detect black spots, potential railway traffic accident spots to recommend solutions...

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