Why do teenagers keep dying because of snagging? Analysis
One of the most dangerous hobbies that are popular among teenagers is snagging — traveling by rail on the roof or running board of a train. Fans of riding in this way are not afraid of criminal liability, the risk of permanent injury, or the possibility of death. How hooking has become a whole subculture and why it is becoming popular is in the Izvestia article.
How did hooking come about?
• The word "hooking" is quite young and has been in use since the early 2000s, but the essence of this phenomenon has the same long, more than two-century history as rail transport itself. The first trains moved no faster than horse-drawn carriages, and therefore traveling in open-topped carriages, on running boards or on roofs did not seem dangerous. Over time, the speeds increased, and passengers began to be placed only inside the cars so that they would not fall out while driving. Urban transport followed the same path — the tram with a closed interior replaced the open-top imperial horses.
• Although rail transport has become more dangerous, traveling outside the carriage has not disappeared as a phenomenon. In the 20th century, this method of transportation was usually resorted to either because of unwillingness to pay for a ticket, or because of line congestion - in a number of countries, such as India and Bangladesh, this practice is still widespread. Military trains were also often launched in such a way that, in order to quickly move troops, soldiers had to be "seated" on running boards and roofs.
• Gradually, trips outside the wagons have gained more than just practical meaning. While hitchhiking was gaining popularity on motorways, illegal travel by rail turned into a kind of adventure. Thus, Russian President Boris Yeltsin admitted that in his younger years he spent two months riding on the roofs of wagons and running boards, as he really wanted to travel, but could not afford it.
Hooking as a hobby
• Over time, hooking has developed into a mass craze and a separate subculture that has settled in Russia. Some factors contributed to this. Thus, the reduction of train crew personnel, especially conductors, weakened passenger control, which opened the way not only to hooking, but also to vandalism.
• In the 1990s and 2000s, the deteriorating condition of trains led to flight cancellations and congestion on the remaining routes, forcing people to sit between cars or cling to the rear cabin. This problem was widely covered in the media, and the mass audience saw on TV screens how people were literally hanging on electric trains, and that this method of transportation was generally practiced.
• The advent of mobile cameras has also contributed to the development of hooking. Fans of riding a train had the opportunity to take their trip on video and share it on social networks, which only encouraged them to repeat this experience themselves and others to experience the same extreme sensations. More and more unusual trips began to gain popularity: not only by rail, but also by trolleybuses, trams and metro trains.
• For some, hooking has become such a serious hobby that special equipment has been used to practice it. In order to make a long trip and not get hurt, such climbers take with them climbing equipment, fasteners, vacuum suction cups, warm clothes and rubberized gloves. They also pay a lot of attention to how to resist guards and supervisors if they encounter them.
• Scoopers have begun to form their own communities, in which they share tips and ways to gain a foothold in the team. They also compete in which trains they "conquered", at what speed and over what distances they were able to travel. There is a division between amateurs and professionals, fans of solo travel and mass trips who want to gain popularity on the Internet and take a ride "for themselves." Although their subculture still cannot be called mass, it remains quite stable.
What is the danger of hooking
• Traveling outside trains is especially dangerous because several groups of accidents can be identified at once, which can deprive an irresponsible passenger of health and even life. First of all, the hitch may simply fall, unable to stay on the train due to high speed, sudden turns or braking, oncoming traffic, strong wind, unreliable attachment. Sometimes the hooks try to perform some tricks while moving, and this greatly increases the unpredictability of the consequences.
• A common cause of death among snaggers is electric shock when touching a contact network, current collector, or brake resistor. Moreover, you can get an electric shock without contact — an electric arc can occur when passing near a power line. Even if you manage to survive the impact, which is unlikely, there is almost no chance for a person to maintain their orientation in space and avoid falling.
• It is extremely dangerous for the hooks not to fall into the dimension, that is, to be outside the space that was provided for the safe passage of the train. Often, bridges, tunnels, and various structures along the tracks are arranged in such a way that any object on the train that "sticks out" from its usual shape is demolished.
• Death due to snagging is not an ordinary event. It was only in May that it became known about the deaths of at least five teenagers in the Moscow Region, St. Petersburg and the Krasnoyarsk Territory. All of them received a fatal electric shock. Three more schoolchildren died in the Moscow region in January, and one of them was riding in an inter-carriage space.
What is the penalty for hooking
• Violators who did not travel by train according to the rules, depending on the circumstances, may be prosecuted under a number of articles of the Administrative or Criminal Codes of the Russian Federation. Part 1 of Article 11.17 of the Administrative Code is most often applied, according to which travel on running boards, roofs of wagons or in other places unsuitable for passengers is punishable by a fine of 2 thousand to 4 thousand rubles. It is noteworthy that until 2022, the penalty under this article was only 100 rubles, and this greatly encouraged hooking.
• Also, Article 11.15.1 of the Administrative Code may be applied against hooks. If law enforcement agencies decide that there has been a deliberate failure to comply with transport safety requirements, a fine of 20 thousand to 30 thousand rubles or administrative arrest for up to 10 days may be imposed.
• Article 267.1 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation states that criminal liability occurs in the case of acts committed out of hooligan motives that threaten the safe operation of vehicles. According to it, violators face either a fine of 150,000 to 300,000 rubles or imprisonment for up to two years.
How teenagers get addicted to hooking
• Experts point out that hooking is a youth phenomenon, but it is no longer typical for adults. Adolescence is an emotionally unstable time in life, at which time young people are exposed to other people's influence, they want to be part of a common group and receive recognition from their peers. It can be difficult for teenagers to refuse an offer to do something unusual, even if they don't like it. This ground is well suited for various extreme activities, one of which may be hooking.
• For teenagers, traveling on trains in violation of the rules is also a test of freedom and the surrounding reality. At this age, they test what they can do, what they can achieve, and how much self-confidence they have. This is superimposed by a lack of understanding of the consequences of their actions. Even if a teenager knows that snagging can lead to death, he does not always realize that this can happen to him. This behavior is somewhat similar to addictions, which people are also usually well informed about.
• To prevent a child from engaging in hooking, it is necessary to talk about the dangers of this activity with him long before he reaches adolescence and oversteps the authority of adults. When discussing this topic, it is necessary to talk about safety and consequences, to say that there are adult hobbies that should not be touched, and hooking is one of them.
• If a teenager does have a craving for such dangerous adventures, contacting a psychologist should help. It is important to understand that teenagers do not necessarily have a craving for extreme sports, but they need to receive positive emotions, and there are many different ways to do this, from music to sports. The presence of any interest that will be approved in the child's environment will help to avoid dangerous hobbies.
When writing the material, Izvestia interviewed:
- child psychologist Irina Taranova.
Переведено сервисом «Яндекс Переводчик»
