The Zambia Railways is installing a new signal system at rail crossings as one of the means to alleviate accidents.
Head Corporate affairs Benson Ngula also says the current rail signal system has been vandalized, thereby increasing possibilities of accident.
Mr Ngula was speaking in an interview with ZNBC news in Lusaka .
He says Zambia Railways is carrying out the installation of the new rail signal system in partnership Huawei and Bomber Dear Companies.
Mr. Ngula disclosed that the new rail signal system will fitted with satellites and flashlights
Remember the days when we even had a Chief Signals and TelComs Engineer at Zambia Railways – Kabwe. Gone are the glory days. After Mwanawasa sold the system, we saw chaps putting up shacks at level crossings and using Hand Signals to direct traffic !!! God forbid
This is what happens when even simple journalist research can’t be carried out: “Bombardier” has never been known to be “Bomber Dear!” As many zedians will argue, English isn’t their mother tongue, I wonder why they bother to READ & WRITE in English, just use your mother tongue, your education might be more valued then!!
It will also really help if Zambian drivers can pay attention to the basics of driving. A good signal will do nothing to deter a person who wants to beat the train at the crossing (especially in the recent incident).
Simple common sense driving lacks in this country e.g:
1) keep left pass right on dual lanes, leave the right lane for those passing faster than you (yes there are cars that can do above 30km/h safely).
2) Never back up into a highway especially with oncoming traffic,
3) Psychotic flashing of your headlights continuously like a psychedelic does NOT mean the other car has given you way WAIT to be given way
4) Joining the road with vehicles approaching assuming its their responsibility to brake hard and slow down
5) Overtaking without view of whats coming curves/hills…
Problem in Zambia we love treating symptoms leaving causes to fester. If you cant get the basics right the chances are that you will be a mess the real stuff. Also rules should apply to EVERYONE. Pay attention to the way minibus drivers, pirate taxi drivers and those C5 lunatic drivers behave on the road. One set of rules for normal people and another for the crazies.
Believe it or not! Over 90% of these accidents are as a result of human error. We shall only succeed if we accept it and act accordingly. Lets value life above all please.
IS THIS A BIG DEAL? I THOUGH INSTALLING SIGNALS IS IN THE BUDGET ALREADY AND WHEN THEY ARE KAPUTI FITTERS JUST GO THERE TO INSTAL WITHOUT ANNOUNCING IT. ANNOUNCE THINGS LIKE ‘NEW ELECTRIC TRAINS’. NOT GOING TO TOILET.
THEY FAILED TO PROVIDE SIGNS BECAUSE OF COSTS, AND NOW 5 LIVES ARE LOST AND PEOPLE ARE DISABLED THEY TAKE RESPONSIBILITY.
ZAMBIA LET US GET SERIOUS
SAFETY FIRST
Consider ‘sleeping policemen’ (humps) just before the rail-crossing to slow down vehicles. This could be like 5 to 10 metres before the rail-crossing. As someone already said, we have rough drivers and just signals may not be enough.