Why do we still try to get to the other side quickly at a level crossing, even though the barriers are already lowering and it is a life-threatening action? Haste, a lot of haste, is often the cause of such behavior in traffic, thinks traffic psychologist Gerard Tertoolen.
In Helmond, a motorist hit 14-year-old Sam this week while he was cycling to school. The motorist thought to quickly pass under the barrier, while a train was already approaching. Sam hadn’t expected the car, because the barriers went down, and it was shoveled full.
“We overestimate our own actions, think we are fast enough.”
Figures show that every two days there is an accident or a near-accident on the Dutch railways. “Lack of patience, feeling that you have no time to lose and then also being the cigar because the barriers are going down at that moment. This combination ensures that we cannot wait a while,” says traffic psychologist Tertoolen.
And: we humans often think that nothing will happen to us. “We overestimate our own actions in such a situation. We think we’re fast enough. Or we assume that those barriers are adjusted in such a way that you can still easily pass under them. Without thinking about the horrific consequences if things go wrong.”
ProRail has already taken measures to make the railway safer: more supervision, lifting level crossings and fences have been installed. “Nevertheless, we see an increase in the number of incidents and that has to do with behaviour,” said John Voppen, CEO of ProRail, earlier.
“The part of the brain that estimates risk has only developed around 25 years.”
It is mainly young people who seek out the danger, the railway manager concludes from camera images and reports from bystanders. According to Tertoolen, this can be explained. “The part of the brain with which we assess risks is only fully developed around the age of 25. Until then, young people are more likely to push the boundaries.”
ProRail started a campaign in September to reach young people in particular. According to Tertoolen, it is important that this target group is addressed by young people. “Emphasis on the desired behavior and not on everything that can go wrong. It is better to say that waiting is not so bad than to show them the consequences of an accident. They are not sensitive to that, because they think it will not happen to them.”
ProRail started a campaign in September to warn young people about the dangers of the railways.
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Car races past closing barriers, Sam (14) survives the blow