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Railroad Crossing Misconceptions & Reality
| MISCONCEPTIONS |
REALITY |
Railroad
crossing accidents are
anomalies and not something to be
concerned about |
Annually,
there are about 200 deaths and 1,000 injuries from
crossing collisions—far greater than for commercial
airlines in a typical year. There are more than 200,000
crossings in the U.S. with over 129,000 involving public
roads |
When
there are railroad crossing accidents, it's because
motorists did something illegal and/or foolish |
Railroad
crossing accidents occur for a variety of reasons.
These include: lack of adequate protection devices,
deficient crossing conditions, improper train operations,
and inappropriate driving. |
Crossing
gates are not effective in reducing train/car accidents
at railroad crossings |
Crossing
gates are 3-4 times safer than passive warning devices
such as crossbucks and stop signs. The effectiveness
of gates has been confirmed by research studies and
the U.S. Department of Transportation. |
You
can always see and/or hear a train when approaching
a railroad crossing |
Sight
obstructions (trees, buildings, parked trains, vegetation,
etc.) and poor track and/or road design can retard
the view of oncoming trains. Also, train engineers
may fail to sound the engine’s horn or whistle
in adequate time. |
Railroads are precluded
from determining the need for, and the funding of,
safety devices at railroad crossings |
There
are public programs to determine safety needs at railroad
crossings and to fund the installation of safety devices,
but the railroads can also perform these tasks, as
long as they comply with established engineering standards. |
OTHER
FACTORS THAT CAUSE RESPONSIBLE DRIVERS
TO BE INVOLVED IN TRAIN/CAR ACCIDENTS
AT RAILROAD CROSSINGS…
-
Lack
of protection devices to warn of trains presence
at passive crossings
-
Sight
obstructions
-
Physical
layout of crossing
-
Roadway
alignment with tracks
-
Automated
safety equipment malfunctions
-
Railroad
not following safety procedures
-
No
uniformity for crossing protection devices
-
Drivers
behavior to proceed without extra caution “always
expect a train”
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TIPS
ON RAILROAD-CROSSING SAFETY
(Digest of Ohio Motor Vehicle Laws, The Ohio Department
of Public Safety)
-
Expect a train
on any track at any time. Most trains do not travel on
a regular schedule.
-
Don’t get
trapped on a grade crossing. Never drive onto a grade crossing
until you are sure you can clear the tracks. Once you have
started to cross the tracks, keep going, especially if
you see a train approaching.
-
Never drive
around the gate. If the gates are down, stop and stay in
place.
-
Watch out for
a second train. When you are at a multiple-track crossing,
do not proceed until you are sure that no other train is
coming on another track, especially from the opposite direction.
-
If you are stuck
on the track and a train is approaching, unfasten your
safety belt, get out of the vehicle and off the tracks.
Run a safe distance from the track in the direction of
the train, in order to avoid flying debris.
-
Watch for vehicles
that must stop at crossings.
-
Never race a
train.
-
Don’t misjudge
the train’s speed and distance. Because of the large
size of the train, it appears to be moving much slower
than it actually is. Trains cannot stop quickly.
-
Be especially
alert at night for railroad-crossing warning signs. Be
sure you can stop within the distance illuminated by your
headlights, remembering that most railroad cars are not
equipped with reflectorized tape as are large trucks, and
-
Be especially
careful and reduce speed for obstructions that block your
view.
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