75% drop in fatalities
Solutions scaled to five more sites
40–70% Drop in fatalities
Wider implementation
The challenge
Tackling track trespassing
Mumbai’s railway network is a vital lifeline but also a high-risk zone due to its unique geography and heavy commuter traffic. Despite multiple safety efforts, track trespassing remains a persistent issue.
Key challenges
Ground-level routes cut through dense areas
Trains every minute at 60+ mph heighten danger
Hard-to-climb bridges push people to risky shortcuts
Signs, ads, and fines haven’t stopped track crossings
The solution
Transforming rail safety through human behavior
Understanding behavior
Found overconfidence and speed misjudgment
Analyzed why people take risks
Identified safety measure flaws
Behavior-driven fixes
Optimized horn patterns
Fear-based visuals for caution
Visual markers to correct speed perception
Implementation approach
1
Fear-based warnings
Replaced text with striking visuals
Triggered instant response
Used real images to evoke fear
2
Optimized horn signals
Set ideal honking distance
Used two short blasts for attention
Matched brain’s response patterns
3
Visual speed cues
Added yellow stripes on tracks
Recalibrated speed perception
Made train movement noticeable
The impact
Scaling safety solutions
Proven impact
75% drop in fatalities
Exceeded expectations
Deaths fell from 40 to 10 in a year
Scaled success
Expanded to five sites
Confirmed effectiveness
Fatalities reduced by 40%–70%
Lasting change
Saved lives
Replicable safety model
Strengthened railway safety
Looking ahead
Expansion
Scale interventions across more high-risk locations
Innovation
Explore new behavior-driven safety solutions
Collaboration
Partner with authorities for long-term impact
Testimonials
Attempts to prevent trespassing had failed because they had not considered how people make decisions.
Rakesh Ojha, Head of Department
