Brazil records 2,685 railway accidents in five years

In just five years, 2,685 traffic accidents involving railways were recorded in the country. This is according to data released on Friday (18) by the ANTF (National Association of Rail Transporters), as part of National Traffic Week.

That averages out to 537 accidents per year, or two every three days. But how does this happen? The main cause is disregard at crossings, especially in urban centers, and lack of attention, according to the association and railway operators.

Cars, motorcycles and pedestrians flirt with danger daily by crossing the railway line as a train approaches. The train's horn, the red light and closed barriers are not always enough to prevent people and vehicles from crossing the railway.

Trains have legal right-of-way and, as one might imagine, stopping a train that can have up to 330 loaded cars is no simple task. Even when crossing urban areas at speeds of no more than 25 kilometers per hour, a train can still travel more than one kilometer between the moment the brakes are applied and when the train comes to a complete stop.

The concessionaire VLI, controlling company of FCA (Ferrovia Centro-Atlântica), for example, reported recording more than 43,000 reckless incidents at rail crossings in the greater Belo Horizonte area alone between January and August of this year.

The total indicates an average of 182 incidents per day, or more than seven per hour, according to data from the operator's CCPN (Level Crossing Control Center). It was necessary to replace 58 barriers, broken due to irregular approach by vehicles.

In Betim alone, there were 36,441 incidents, followed by Santa Luzia (3,253), Prudente de Morais (3,208) and Pedro Leopoldo (785). Last year, over the same period, there were 30,000 vehicle incursions at rail crossings.

Through its press office, ANTF President and CEO Davi Barreto stated that safety is everyone's responsibility and that prevention also depends on raising awareness among those who live and spend time near railways.

The companies Brado, Rumo, MRS, VLI, Vale, Fips, FLT, FTC and TLSA created a safety initiative, launched during the national week, which focuses on drawing the attention of drivers and pedestrians.

STOP, LOOK, LISTEN

Among the operators' guidelines for safer railway transit are: maintaining a distance of 15 meters from the railway, respecting signage and safety warnings, never stopping on the tracks, being mindful of headphone use, and not attempting to cross between rail cars.

The main activities related to the theme — out of a total of 190 across 120 cities — are scheduled for Wednesday (23).

Inattention in the vicinity of railways led concessionaire MRS to launch a campaign in July featuring children and teenagers about the use of smartphones near railway lines.

VLI will conduct two railway accident drills: on the 23rd in Uberaba (MG), at the level crossing on Rua Espanha, and in Aguaí (SP) the following day, at the level crossing on Rua Eleodoro Mateus de Moraes.