M

otorists using two railway crossings near Petamburan Market and Jl. Tenaga Listrik in Tanah Abang, Central Jakarta, might not expect to pay much heed to several teenage punks gathered at the crossing areas.

However, the teens are not simply hanging out, they actively assist drivers crossing the tracks, by informing them if a train is approaching.

The two crossings do not have proper barriers and pose dangers to motorists using them. Sumi, a resident of the area, said many accidents had occurred before the teenagers took up their posts at the crossings.

“One time, a train hit an ojek [motorcycle taxi] driver because the driver was unaware that a train was coming,” Sumi said, as quoted by kompas.com.

Sumi said that she had bought a 3-meter metal pole to be installed as a barrier at the crossing. The teenage punks, she said, helped her to install it and painted the barrier red and white like a regular railway-crossing barrier.

She added that now the teenagers, who used to be street musicians, safeguarded the crossings by monitoring the activity on the line, and informing drivers if there was a train coming down the track.

“Some drivers willingly give them money,” Sumi said.