Bangkok: Major traffic management adjustments have been recommended for railway crossings to reduce the risk of recurring incidents. A scholar from Thammasat University emphasizes the urgent need for urban data updates and integrated traffic management to improve decision-making and minimize reliance on human judgment.
According to Thai News Agency, Dr. Phanudet Chumyen, a lecturer in the Department of Civil Engineering at Thammasat University, highlighted the necessity for systemic risk reduction strategies following a train-bus collision at the Makkasan railway crossing on Asoke - Din Daeng Road. Dr. Phanudet stressed the importance of managing intersections between road and rail systems, which are complex and prone to traffic conflicts.
Dr. Phanudet explained that roads and rail systems have different requirements-roads aim to maintain continuous traffic flow to prevent congestion, while railways need unobstructed tracks for smooth train operations. Effective management of these intersections is crucial to ensure the safe coexistence of both systems and adaptation to changing traffic conditions.
"Trains have long braking distances and cannot avoid obstacles like cars," Dr. Phanudet noted. "Even with warning signs, many countries are designing crossings to minimize risks from the outset."
The scholar emphasized the need for up-to-date data sharing among rail, road, and traffic systems agencies to improve intersection management. Changes in urban contexts, such as population and traffic volume, necessitate current data for effective design and flow management.
Dr. Phanudet suggested that real-time data exchange could significantly enhance risk management efficiency, potentially evolving into a decision support system linking road and rail data. He stressed that safety at crossings often depends on short-term decisions by operators and drivers, which can lead to errors, and advocated for a collaborative approach to risk reduction.
Countries worldwide are implementing technologies like obstacle detection and smart cameras to improve intersection safety. Dr. Phanudet proposed that Thailand could adopt similar technologies and develop a database of traffic conditions to enhance public monitoring and risk awareness.
He concluded by emphasizing the importance of addressing systemic loopholes to prevent future accidents and highlighted the need for integrated management between road and rail systems rather than reducing rail transport capacity to the city to resolve level crossing conflicts.