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H. Kishie Singh

THE news item was simply horrific. Fiftytwo persons, mostly women and children, returning from a wedding on a tractor-trailer, were killed at an unmanned railway crossing in Nagpur in February this year. The driver had not stopped to look left and right. Or may be he had noticed the train, but tried to outrun it, and thus became responsible for taking 52 lives. Simply criminal and stupid. The tragedy would have never occurred had he just waited for a few moments.

There is a very definite prescribed procedure for crossing an unmanned railway level crossing. As per Section 131 of the Motor Vehicle Act, 1988, it is legally binding on the drivers to take precautions at such crossings. It says: Stop, Look and Ensure. There are speed breakers before you reach the actual crossing. These are built for your safety, to slow you down and make sure you come to a dead halt. The information sign with a triangle and picture of a train engine indicates an unmanned railway crossing. In the case of a private car, the driver is responsible for the safety the passengers; if it is a school bus or truck then the attendant or cleaner should get out of the bus and look in both directions to make sure no train is coming. Look and listen. If there is a curve in the track and you cannot see the track for a long distance, try to hear it coming. For sure the train driver will give long and repeated hoots on his horn. Only after you have ensured that the track is clear, should you cross.

If the red triangle has the picture of a gate or barrier, it means the level crossing is manned. You are obliged to stop here if the gate is closed.

Common sense should govern your driving actions. Since this does not happen most of the time, the government is obliged to govern your driving. As per Section 116 of the Motor Vehicle Act, the state government or any authorised body has the right to erect traffic signs to enforce speed limits (Sub section (2) of Section 112) or any prohibitions or restrictions for the purpose of regulating traffic.

Section 119 of the Act stresses on "duty to obey traffic signs". It is mandatory to obey the traffic signs. These signs are mostly circular with a red border.

These are there to ensure the free flow of traffic. The failure to abide by them will not only cause traffic snarls but also endanger lives.

Then you have the warning signs, which are mostly triangular and are designed to regulate traffic. They warn you of a broken road, narrow bridge, school ahead, pedestrian crossing.

The third type of sign is informatory and is normally rectangular. It tells you about petrol pumps, food, toilets, repairs. Anything to make motoring enjoyable.

Our roads, especially national highways, are now being sign-posted according to international norms. If you follow the signs diligently, traffic would flow easier and life would be safer.

Happy motoring.

This feature was published on May 14, 2005