ANGELS
ON TRACK SAYS RAIL COMPANIES SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR
SAFETY
THE HERALD
July 19, 2000
By Jill Keller-Herald Staff Reporter
Many railroad crossings in this area are only marked by a
reflectorized sign, known as a "crossbuck."
Too often we do not hear about the dangers of these railroad
crossings until a tragedy like the one that claimed the life
of John Reese occurs.
"For too long the railroads have treated the issue of railroad safety
as everyone else's problem --throwing responsibility to make their trains and
tracks safer, onto the local officials and communities," said Sherry Fox,
executive director of RailWatch, a national non-profit rail safety organization.
"The railroads need to be responsible for these crossings and the accidents
that occur on them," said Fox. "The solution is not to blame the
driver, which is what happens in most cases."
Fox stated that many times the driver is thought to be trying
to "beat the train" but "you can't beat the
train if you can't see the train."
According to Fox there are often many factors that can obstruct
a drivers view of an oncoming train which could be eliminated
if every crossing had the proper lighting and gating warning
devices.
"The railroad companies are making enormous profits," said Fox, -- "yet
their accident record remains a disgrace and is virtually unchanged from year
to year." It's clear we have a serious problem.
"RailWatch is dedicated to educating the public about railroad safety
and trying to hold the nation's railroads accountable for their operations
and their safety records."
Together Fox works with another organization, Angels on Track,
that was started by Vicky Moore after her son was killed
in a train accident to improve railroad crossing safety.
"Our mission is to provide the financial backing needed to improve railroad
crossing safety throughout Ohio," said Moore. "We are currently building
a strong grassroots organization to work with Congress and the federal regulators."
Angels on Track Foundation, formed in part by train crash
victims and their families, want the government and rail
companies to do more to prevent train-car collisions, derailments,
and train related hazardous waste spills.
Getting warning signals in place faster is what Moore has
set out to do. -- They hope to transfer part of their responsibility
for signal installation from the state to the local level.
"It is not a priority until someone is killed," said Moore. -- "The
accident formula has to first be met before they will consider upgrading the
crossings."
Both women agree that there is no uniformity from state to
state on how the railroad crossings are guarded.
"The people involved in these accidents are normal, well-educated people
who do not all of a sudden become ignorant and forget how to drive,"
said Moore.
"The problem is that there is not advance warning to alert drivers to
an oncoming train, and often their own view is obstructed by the shrubs and
trees that are not maintained around the crossing areas."
For more information on RailWatch call them at 877-RAWATCH
and for The Angels on Track Foundation check out their website
at www.angelsontrack.org.
"The more people that get involved the better," said Fox. -- "If
we can generate enough noise, we will make a change that will make a difference."
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