The Director of Railway Regulation at the Land Transport Regulatory Authority (LATRA), Mr. Hanya Mbawala, has called on road users to strictly observe safety procedures when approaching and crossing railway level crossings in order to prevent avoidable accidents and ensure the continued safety and efficiency of railway transport services.

Mr. Mbawala made the remarks during the commemoration of the International Level Crossing Awareness Day (ILCAD) 2026 on 9th, June, 2026 held in Dar es Salaam the event was organized by LATRA in collaboration with the Southern African Railways Association (SARA) through a public awareness campaign on railway crossing safety conducted at facilities operated by the Tanzania Railways Corporation (TRC) and the Tanzania-Zambia Railway Authority (TAZARA).

He emphasized that safety at railway crossings requires the collective responsibility of all land transport stakeholders, including motorists and pedestrians, who are the primary users of road-rail intersections.

“Every road user has a responsibility to exercise caution when approaching railway crossings by stopping, looking in both directions, and ensuring the track is clear before crossing. They should also adhere to all safety signs and procedures in place to reduce preventable accidents and enable railway services to operate efficiently at all times,” said Mr. Mbawala.

He further warned motorists and pedestrians against relying solely on train horns or engine noise, noting that trains may sometimes make unexpected movements that could result in accidents if proper precautions are not observed.

Speaking at the event, the Director of Technical and Operations at the Southern African Railways Association (SARA), Eng. Moses Nyoni, urged that trains must always be given priority at railway crossings to prevent potential tragedies.

“Motorists and pedestrians should always give way to trains at level crossings. Due to their enormous weight—often hundreds or even thousands of tonnestrains cannot stop suddenly and require a considerable distance to come to a complete halt, even after emergency brakes have been applied,” said Eng. Nyoni.

The International Level Crossing Awareness Day (ILCAD) is commemorated annually around the world to raise awareness of safety at road-rail intersections and to promote collective action aimed at preventing avoidable accidents.