Traffic congestion and vehicles stopping on railway crossings in the heart of major cities represent a serious risk on the roads.
Often, these incidents do not stem from drivers intentionally breaking traffic laws but are largely due to misunderstandings about regulations and safe distances at railway crossings.
In response, the State Railway of Thailand and related agencies have emphasized the legal provisions all drivers must know to reduce accident rates, focusing especially on two key figures from the Land Traffic Act for the safety of lives and property.
According to the Land Traffic Act of 1979, safety rules require drivers approaching railway crossings to reduce speed and stop their vehicles at least 5 meters from the tracks to check for safety before crossing.
This rule applies regardless of whether the crossing has automatic barriers, warning lights, or is simply a community-level crossing without any warning system.
However, many people confuse this with the 15-meter distance stipulated by law regarding parking prohibitions. This distinction is crucial for road users to understand the difference between temporarily stopping at a minimum of 5 meters to wait before crossing and the legal ban on parking within 15 meters of railway tracks.
Typically, train carriages extend significantly beyond the rails on each side, so stopping a vehicle with wheels off the rails but too close to the tracks still poses a risk of being sideswiped by a passing train. This is why the law mandates a stopping distance of no less than 5 meters.
Additionally, traffic laws prohibit overtaking other vehicles within 30 meters before a railway crossing, which is a critical area prone to severe accidents due to limited visibility and lane competition in bottleneck zones before crossing the tracks.
Safe driving practices at railway crossings, consistent with the law, involve three key steps: slowing down whenever you see a train warning sign; carefully looking left and right, especially at night or on curves with poor visibility; and allowing the vehicle ahead to fully clear the tracks before proceeding, to avoid getting stuck on the rails amid traffic congestion. Trains are extremely heavy and cannot stop suddenly.
Therefore, understanding and strictly adhering to these legal requirements is essential for every driver to ensure safety on every journey.