NHK investigated the installation status of major railway companies regarding drive recorders that record the situation of accidents, etc. I found out.
In the accident where the limited express train derailed in Taiwan on April 2, a camera installed in the driver's cab recorded the collision with a truck that rolled over on the side of the railroad track, which is being used to investigate the cause.
In Japan, it is not obligatory to install a so-called drive recorder, which is a video recording device, on railroad vehicles, but a national study group after the derailment accident of the JR Fukuchiyama Line 16 years ago said that it would be desirable to install it. ..
In April, NHK conducted a questionnaire survey of 22 companies, including JR and major private railway companies, regarding the installation status of drive recorders and their reasons.
As a result, at each JR company, JR West has installed all trains on conventional lines except the Shinkansen, JR Central has almost all trains, and JR East has installed all trains running in the Tokyo metropolitan area, nearly 60% of the total. Was there.
The reason is that it is useful for police on-site inspection in the event of an accident, shortening the time to restart operation, and leading to stable operation.
JR Kyushu has installed it in some trains as it is useful for equipment inspections, and plans to introduce it in the future.
On the other hand, JR Hokkaido and JR Shikoku do not have any organization, and it is undecided in the future.
Major private railway companies responded that Keio Electric Railway, Tokyu Corporation, and Keihan Electric Railway have installed all trains, but only some trains, including trial introductions, or have not installed them at all.
Yo Matsumoto, a senior researcher at Nihon University, who is an expert in railway engineering, said, "Recording images is useful not only for investigating accidents but also for preventing accidents. It is necessary to encourage them. "
Drive recorder installed on the Inokashira line
This is an image of a drive recorder installed in the driver's cab of the "Keio Inokashira Line" that connects Shibuya Station and Kichijoji Station in Tokyo.
In the video, the state of the platform on both sides of the track and the state of the road outside the railroad crossing are recorded along with the track, and you can check the movement of people waiting for the train at the platform.
In addition, equipment such as overhead lines and utility poles that send electricity to railroad tracks and trains are also shown, so you can monitor for any abnormalities.
Keio Electric Railway has introduced it to all trains.
In addition to shortening the time to resume operation by quickly grasping the situation at the time of an accident, confirmation of events that affect operation such as flying objects hitting the overhead line and recording of obstructive actions such as leaning out from the platform In the case of maliciousness, we may provide the video to the police.
Lessons learned from the JR Fukuchiyama Line derailment accident
In Japan, it is not obligatory to install a video recording device, so-called drive recorder, on railway vehicles, but in principle, it is obligatory to install a device to record the driving situation.
Based on the lessons learned from the JR Fukuchiyama Line derailment accident 16 years ago, unless the maximum speed of the train is low or it is unavoidable due to structural reasons, the speed of the train, the operation status of the brakes, the operation command and the call record with the driver, etc. Need to be recorded.
The installation of so-called drive recorders was only desired in the future in the process of consideration at that time.
Questionnaire to 22 major companies
In April, NHK sent a questionnaire in the form of a questionnaire about the number of drive recorders installed by 22 major private railway companies belonging to JR and the Japan Private Railway Association, and the reasons for this, and received answers from the entire company. ..
JR companies
JR West has installed it on all conventional lines except the Shinkansen, and JR Central has installed it on almost all trains except for the two trains that board other companies' lines.
JR East says that all the trains running in the metropolitan area were installed at nearly 60% of the total.
The reason for the installation is that in the event of an accident, the police on-site inspection will be shortened, leading to stable operation and helping to prevent recurrence.
In addition, JR Kyushu will be installed in some trains as it will be useful for equipment inspections, and will be introduced in the future.
On the other hand, JR Hokkaido and JR Shikoku answered that they did not install it at all.
Regarding the reason for not installing, JR Hokkaido said, "We will firmly install the required equipment, and the installation of other equipment is undecided." JR Shikoku said, "Because it costs a lot of money for maintenance and running costs, we will not install it. It is. "
Major private railway companies
At major private railway companies, Keio Electric Railway, Tokyu Corporation, and Keihan Electric Railway have introduced it in all trains.
In addition, only a part of the trains will be introduced. Nagoya Railroad will "steadily proceed with the installation", Nishi-Nippon Railroad will "install by introducing or updating new cars", and Tobu Railway will "currently have two trains for the purpose of investigating the cause of accidents". Although it has been installed on a trial basis, it is thought that it will contribute to the early resumption of operation. "
In addition, Keisei Electric Railway installed in 2 trains, Hanshin Electric Railway installed in 1 train, and Sagami Railway installed in 6 trains are undecided in the future.
Seibu Railway, Odakyu Electric Railway, Keikyu Electric Railway, Tokyo Metro, Kintetsu, Nankai Electric Railway, and Hankyu Electric Railway do not have any trains installed, and none of the companies have decided on future installations.
Regarding the reason for not installing it, Seibu Railway said, "Dashcams do not increase safety by installing them, so their priority as safety equipment is low. Consider installing after organizing the investment effect. I want to go. "
Odakyu Electric Railway says, "We are focusing on preventing the occurrence of events and working on the installation of platform doors."
Keikyu Corporation says, "If it can be used to shorten the time required for on-site verification, it may be considered."
According to Tokyo Metro, "There is only one railroad crossing on all lines, and we are working diligently to install platform doors at 80% or more of the platforms."
Kintetsu says, "I want to give priority to other safety equipment."
Nankai Electric Railway says, "We believe that it is desirable to install equipment that can be used comprehensively by incorporating AI technology, including improving the efficiency of maintenance."
Hankyu Corporation says, "We are considering how to use it as a means to incorporate new technology and ensure safety."
All Tokyu Corporation is installed in the driver's cab
Tokyu Corporation installed drive recorders in the cabs of all 182 trains owned in 2018, three years ago.
The same thing as for automobiles, which is about several centimeters in height and width, is installed on the driver's cab.
It is said that it can shoot up to about 200 meters away even at night, and it means that you can save the image while driving for about a week.
A person in charge of Tokyu Corporation said, "I expect the effect of accelerating the restart of operation by confirming what happened not only verbally but also in the video when an accident occurs." It was.
Not only for expert accident investigation but also for facility improvement and driver skill improvement
Yo Matsumoto, a senior researcher at Nihon University, who was an expert in railway engineering and was the chairman of the railway department of the Japan Transport Safety Board, not only helps investigate the cause because he can understand the situation immediately before the accident, but also improves facilities such as railroad crossings. It is desirable to install it because it will lead to improvement of the skills of train drivers.
On top of that, he points out that while drive recorders are so widespread in taxis and buses, it is necessary for the government to sort out the merits of installing them in railroad vehicles and encourage them to spread.
Senior Researcher Matsumoto said, "The signs of an" incident "that did not lead to an accident can be seen very well by watching the video. It is not understood that drive recorders are also very useful in preventing accidents. I don't think so. If you realize that it can be used for "incidents," I think it will become more widespread. "