A Wake-up Call: The Death of a Blind Man at an LRT Station

The recent tragic death of an elderly visually impaired man, who lost his life after falling onto the railway tracks at the Titiwangsa LRT station and being struck by a train, has sent shockwaves throughout the nation. This heartbreaking and preventable incident underscores the urgent need for improved safety measures across our existing and upcoming rail transit systems.

A Call to Action

As a collective of 18 civil society organizations and eight individuals, we urge the transport minister, Loke Siew Fook, and Rapid Rail’s management to immediately implement eight measures to ensure the safety of all passengers, including the elderly, children, and disabled persons.

Measures to Ensure Safety and Accessibility

• Install platform screen doors at all existing and new rail stations
  Many modern rail systems worldwide, including those in neighbouring countries like Singapore, have adopted these screen doors to prevent falls onto tracks.
• Enhance tactile flooring and audible alerts
  Enhance tactile paving on station platforms to help guide passengers who are visually impaired, have dementia, or have cognitive issues, to name a few. Additionally, provide regular, timely, and clear audio announcements and warning signals to alert passengers about approaching trains.
• Increase station staff and improve assistance services
  Ensure more trained personnel are on duty at key areas throughout operating hours to assist passengers with needs, ensuring they can safely navigate stations and use rail services without injury or loss of life.
•  Develop SOPs for passenger assistance
  Establish clear and structured SOPs for passenger assistance across all rail stations. Include in these SOPs detailed guidelines on emergency response measures and station management during both peak and non-peak hours. Conduct regular drills and reviews, followed by corrective action as required, to keep staff updated on good practices.
• Comprehensive training for all personnel
  Ensure that training is conducted regularly for all station and rail personnel on appropriate means of assistance for passengers with diverse needs. The training, monitoring, and evaluation must be conducted in collaboration with stakeholders, including disabled peoples’ organizations.
• Install advanced surveillance and emergency response systems
  Strengthen the life-saving and injury-prevention scope of CCTV monitoring in Malaysia’s rail system using artificial intelligence to identify potential safety hazards in real-time, enabling rapid response and timely intervention.
• Conduct public awareness campaigns
  Educate passengers about station safety protocols, including special provisions for persons with diverse disabilities (visible and invisible), senior citizens, and children.
• Reduce platform-train gaps
  Many wheelchair users struggle with the wide gap and height differences between train carriages and station platforms. Implement gap fillers, ramp systems, and better-aligned platform heights to significantly improve accessibility and safety for wheelchair users and passengers with mobility, cognitive, and psychosocial support needs.

Conclusion

The loss of a life due to preventable circumstances is unacceptable. We sincerely hope that this incident serves as a wake-up call for authorities to take proactive measures in ensuring safer public transportation for all passengers.

FAQs

Q: What measures can be taken to prevent similar incidents in the future?
A: We urge the authorities to implement the eight measures outlined above to ensure the safety and accessibility of all passengers.

Q: What can be done to improve public awareness about station safety protocols?
A: Public awareness campaigns should be conducted to educate passengers about station safety protocols, including special provisions for persons with diverse disabilities (visible and invisible), senior citizens, and children.

Q: How can we ensure the safety and accessibility of public transportation for all?
A: By integrating safety measures from the planning and blueprint stage, designing an inclusive and secure public transport network will not only prevent tragedies but also enhance public confidence in Malaysia’s rail system and networks.