Railroad crossings warrant special attention from motorists throughout the
year, but winter weather and potentially slippery road conditions require
drivers to be especially careful when approaching at-grade railroad
crossings.
“The most important thing motorists can do is slow down and watch for
advance warning signs that alert them that they are approaching a railroad
crossing,” said Jim Tracey, Operation Lifesaver Coordinator for the
Wisconsin Department of Transportation. “Stopping distances for vehicles
increase on slippery roads, and regardless of the weather, trains require
very long stopping distances due to their weight and momentum.” Tracey
offered other winter railroad crossing safety tips:
* At crossings where vehicles are required to stop, stop your
vehicle at least 15 feet from the tracks.
* Look carefully to see around vehicle mirrors, pillars and
passengers.
* Listen. Snow can muffle the sound of an approaching train.
Crack the window, lower the radio and heater. Hang up the cell phone.
* Watch for and obey warning lights and controls at crossings.
Report malfunctioning lights/gates by calling police or the toll-free number
listed at or near the crossing.
* Look both directions before crossing railroad tracks.
Although one train may have passed, another could be behind it or coming
from the opposite direction.
* If your vehicle gets stranded on a crossing, exit quickly
and move away from the track. Report your vehicle’s location to law
enforcement and/or a railroad dispatcher.
It’s estimated that a collision between a train and vehicle or pedestrian
occurs every two hours in the U.S. Pedestrians should only cross tracks at
designated public crossings with either a cross buck sign, lights or gates.
“Railroads and railroad yards are not only dangerous places, they are
private property and unauthorized people walking along them can be charged
with trespassing,” Tracey said. “Every year in this country, more
pedestrians are killed while trespassing in rail yards or along tracks than
are killed in vehicle/train crashes.”
Operation Lifesaver (<http://www.oli.org/>) is a non-profit, international
continuing public education program established in 1972 to reduce
collisions, deaths and injuries at places where roadways cross train tracks,
and on railroad rights-of-way. Certified Operation Lifesaver volunteers
provide free presentations to schools and community groups on rail safety
issues.
