Understanding and mitigating risky behaviour: study of trespassing on suburban tracks

Abstract

Suburban Rail is considered as the fastest, cheapest, safest and most environment friendly mode of urban transport which forms the lifeline of metro cities like Mumbai, Kolkata. However, every year more than 6000 persons die in accidents on the suburban railway tracks of Mumbai and Kolkata only. Unfortunately, inspite of magnitude of the problem, no serious scientific study or research has been done in India to analyze the situation and come up with practical and easy to implement solutions. Main objective of the study is to understand the trespassing behaviour and associated fatalities on the suburban tracks of Indian Railways with focus on Sealdah Division (Kolkata) and come up with broad set of policy framework and recommended interventions to prevent the same. As part of the study, extensive literature review was carried out covering available literatures on risky behaviour, behaviour modification, social marketing, trespassing/suicide on railway tracks in US/Europe. Analysis of available data on trespassing fatality on suburban tracks of Sealdah division in Kolkata along with views of train drivers and trespassers provided the required input for the study. The study indicates that majority of the trespassers are young adults out of which about 15% are females. However, majority of the trespassing fatalities are middle aged people (average age 42-43 years) out of which about 24% are females. Suicide accounts for about 20-30% of trespassing fatalities and out of remaining trespassing accidents, majority are taking place near busy stations where both level of trespassing and train frequency is high. Trespassing cases increases during festival seasons like Durga puja, Viswakarma puja etc. Recently many of the trespassing fatalities occurred when victim was busy in mobile/electronic devices. Major reasons for trespassing are low risk perception about getting hit by trains while trespassing; inadequate enforcement against trespassing; social indifference/acceptance and perceived legality of trespassing as default behavior; absence of barriers to trespassing like fencing; inadequate provisions of alternatives to trespassing like FOB/underpasses etc; poorly designed station layout (approach road, parking etc). Main reasons for trespassers fatality are - lack of alertness while trespassing; overconfidence and poor conspicuousness of approaching trains. Two pronged strategy is proposed to reduce trespassing fatality i) eliminating trespassing at such critical locations where both trespassing and train frequency is high ii) promoting safe and alert trespassing at such other locations where trespassing can t be prevented altogether. Based on the study and literature review a set of recommendations have been proposed which include - educational campaigns, enforcement by RPF/GRP and other engineering technological interventions like fencing, adequate provision of foot over bridge/underpasses, improving horns, provision of audio-visual alarms to improve the conspicuousness of approaching trains etc., aimed at improving the self and response efficacy against trespassing. There is no single generic solution to the above problem. Solutions should be tailored for each identified critical locations depending upon the topography and socio-demographic profiles of these locations to make the implemented measures most cost effective. It should be possible to reduce trespassing fatalities by 65-75% by planning and implementation of appropriate interventions.