Causes of Car Strikes on Railroads
The cause of the car breaking down on the railroad tracks is due to the magnetic field generated from rail emissions and the train body which disrupts the car's ECU working system so that the entire car system is locked.
Often we hear of accidents involving trains and cars. The reason is none other than the car breaking down on the railroad tracks. Indeed, there is no detailed data on the number of traffic accidents that occur on the train tracks. However, according to data compiled by PT KAI Regional Operational Area (Daop) 1 Jakarta until August 2019 there were 97 traffic accidents at railroad crossings.
Generally, accidents involving trains occur at level crossings, i.e. when railroads and highways are made on a level. At least of the 458 level crossings recorded by PT KAI, there are only 171 level crossings that are official, the rest without gates and guarded by the surrounding community.
Accidents often involve small cars, causing concern for SUV, MPV and city car owners every time they pass a railroad crossing. A car breaking down on a railroad track can be disastrous, in addition to endangering the driver's life, this accident is also a risk to the third parties involved.
Therefore, to minimize losses in the event of such a bad risk, it is highly recommended to protect it with car insurance that provides many benefits for you, the car, and also the third parties involved.
Causes of Car Strikes on the Railroad
The public is still asking what is the main reason for the car breaking down on the railroad tracks. Does the material of the car affect the condition of the rails, or does the material of the rails actually affect the speed of the car. There are several arguments regarding this, both from the researchers and PT KAI itself, the following is complete information.
the Cause of Car Strikes on the Railroad According to Lipi
According to the Research Center for Quality Systems and Testing Technology of LIPI, the cause of a car or vehicle breaking down when crossing the railroad tracks is the emission of electromagnets on the railroad bars, namely in the form of electric current distribution cables installed along the railroad tracks. Well this cable is not compatible with cars.
What car owners need to understand is that rails conduct very high magnetic fields when a train travels over a distance of 600 meters. This magnetic field causes the car engine to turn off when crossing the railroad tracks.
When an object containing electricity (train) comes into contact with an electromagnetically incompatible object, it has the potential to produce emissions above the threshold. This emission exposure causes damage to the electrical system of other objects, one of which is the Electronic Control Unit (ECU), which is the main driver of the car.
The ECU on the car functions to control the valve opening and the spray of material in the car's injectors. Because the ECU is exposed to electromagnetics above the threshold, the injectors stop working. The car also broke down, so it could not avoid a collision with a train. Simply, if explained through mechanical glasses, electromagnetic waves that propagate on the train tracks can affect the currents in the ECU system. While injection cars are definitely built from components consisting of various ECU sensors.
the Cause of Car Strikes on the Railroad According to Pt Kereta Api
Meanwhile, PT Kereta Api Indonesia argues that the locomotive has a boggie (train wheel) whose main component is a dynamo. The dynamo itself contains a fairly large magnet. In the CC series locomotive, for example, there are 3 boggie circuits in this entire series carrying 6 large dynamos.
The existence of this dynamo had a significant effect on the rails, which in fact were built of steel that carried a magnetic field even as far as one kilometer from the locomotive. Often motorized vehicles pass on the rails at low speed. When the driver does not shift the engine gear to a lower speed, the engine speed of the car dynamo and the coil instantly turns off due to the KA boggie magnetic field.
This is the reason why railway crossing officers often close crossings when the train is still in sight, or within 1 km of the gate. This is to anticipate any damage to the inside of the car that causes the car to break down on the railroad tracks. Because when the car is dead, there is nothing to save the engine, the driver and passengers have to get out of the car because the train just stopped exactly 800 meters after the driver applied the brakes.
Those are some of the reasons from various parties regarding the reason the car broke down on the railroad tracks. Unfortunately, although there are scientific reasons for the dangers of crossing railroad tracks when the train distance is less than 1km. But in fact not a few are forced to open the crossbar. This prompted the government to issue a mandatory stop rule when crossing a plot of land crossing when the signal sounded.
This is stated in Law number 22 of 2009 concerning Road Transport Traffic, article 114 which reads,
"At level crossings between the railway line and the road, the driver is obliged to stop when the signal sounds, the rail gates have started to close and or there are other signals. The driver must give priority to the train, and give priority to the vehicle that crosses the rail first .
Tips for Safe Driving When Crossing the Railroad
If you don't want to experience a car breaking down while crossing the railroad tracks, obey traffic signs while driving and apply the tips below:
Slow Down When Going Through Railroad Crossings
Even though there was no siren sound, it was a sign that the train was about to pass. However, every time you go through a railroad crossing, reduce your speed and look at the surrounding conditions by paying attention to the right and left of the car. When the siren is turned on, stop at least 25 meters behind the doorstop. Do not try to break through even if you are sure you can get to the other side of the track before the train has passed. Because it has been explained earlier that the magnetic field from a passing train can propagate even within 1 km of a car crossing the rails.
Use Low Speed After Train Passes
The train that just passed in front of you still leaves residual electromagnetic residue that may potentially mess with the car's ECU. So go slowly. Adjust the engine speed and car transmission so that the engine does not die suddenly (engine stall).
Do Not Panic
The three have already been stuck and the car broke down on the railroad tracks, all you need to do is don't panic. Neutralize the transmission out of the car and push your vehicle away from the crossing. Always be disciplined while driving to avoid various risks of accidents.
Those are some tips for driving a car when approaching railroad crossings, especially those on a plot. Always keep a safe distance when driving and make sure to always be alert and not overbearing. Better to be slow as long as it's safe.
