Virginia Wing Vehicle Operations Safety Site
Railroad Crossings

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Guarded and Un-Guarded Railroad Crossings

The vast majority of our ground searches take place in rural

environments where as a vehicle operator you may cross both guarded and

unguarded railroad crossings. In 2001 there were 3011 railroad related

accidents resulting in 11,933 casualties. Of those, 971 were

fatalities. According to the Department of Transportation, from

January to September of 2002 there have been 1,928 railroad accidents

resulting in 7,826 casualties, 741 of them fatal.

Here are some safety tips when operating a vehicle over railroad

crossings.

1. Never drive around lowered gates--its illegal and deadly. If you

suspect that a signal is malfunctioning, call the 1-800 number posted

on or near the crossing signal or your local law enforcement agency.

2. Never race a train to the crossing- even if you tie you lose.

3. Do not get trapped on the tracks. Only proceed through a highway

rail grade crossing if you are able to completely clear the crossing

without stopping.

4. If your vehicle stalls on a crossing, immediately get everyone out

of the vehicle and clear of the tracks. Call your local law

enforcement agency for assistance.

5. At a multiple track crossing waiting for a train to pass, watch out

for a train on the other tracks, approaching in either direction.

6. Be aware that trains cannot stop quickly. Even if the locomotive

engine sees you, a freight train moving at 55 mph can take a mile or

more to come to a stop once the emergency brakes are applied. That is

at least 18 football fields in length.

7. Do not be fooled by the optical illusion- the train you see is

closer to you and moving faster than you think. If you see a train

approaching wait for it to go by before you proceed across the tracks.

Finally, did you know that 64 percent of all collisions between a motor

vehicle and a train occur in daylight hours? Vehicle Operator Safety

begins with you the driver. Drive Safe.

 

(Information provided by the Federal Railroad Administration and

Operation Lifesaver, Inc)

 

 

 

 

 

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