Railroads

Operation Lifesaver Driving Tips

• Never drive around lowered gates – it's illegal and deadly. If you suspect a signal is malfunctioning, call the 1-800 number posted on or near the crossing signal or your local law enforcement agency.
  
• Never race a train to the crossing – even if you tie, you lose.
  
• Do not get trapped on the tracks. Only proceed through a highway-rail grade crossing if you are sure you can completely clear the crossing without stopping. Remember, the train is three feet wider than the tracks on both sides.
  
• If your vehicle stalls on a crossing, Immediateely get everyone out and far away from the tracks. Call your local law enforcement agency for assistance. Look for a 1-800 emergency notification number nearby to contact the railroad.
  
• At a multiple track crossing waiting for a train to pass, watch out for a second train on the other tracks, approaching in either direction.
  
• ALWAYS EXPECT A TRAIN! Freight trains do not follow set schedules.
  
• Be aware that trains cannot stop quickly. Even if the locomotive engineer sees you, a freight train moving at 55 miles per hour can take a mile or more to stop once the emergency brakes are applied. That's 18 football fields!
  
• Do not be fooled by the optical illusion ­ the train you see is closer and faster moving than you think. If you see a train approaching, wait for it to go by before you proceed across the tracks.

Track Facts & Tips

• Railroad tracks, trestles, yards and equipment are private property. Walking or playing on them is illegal ­ trespassers are subject to arrest and fines. Too often the penalty is death.
  
• There are 200,000 miles of railroad tracks in the United States.
  
• Since 1994, almost 5,100 people have been killed while trespassing on railroad rights-of-way and property.
• Trains cannot stop quickly. A freight train moving at 55 miles per hour, or an 8-car passenger train moving at 79 miles per hour, can take a mile or more to stop.
  
• DO NOT walk, run, cycle or operate all terrain vehicles (ATVs) on railroad tracks or rights-of-way or through tunnels.
  
• Cross tracks ONLY at designated pedestrian or roadway crossings. Observe and obey all warning signs and signals.
  
• DO NOT hunt, fish or bungee jump from railroad trestles. They are not designed to be sidewalks or pedestrian bridges ­ there is only enough clearance on the tracks for a train to pass.
  
• DO NOT attempt to hop aboard railroad equipment at any time. A slip of the foot can cost you a limb, or your life.
  
• ALWAYS EXPECT A TRAIN! Freight trains DO NOT follow set schedules.
  
• REMEMBER: rails and recreation DO NOT mix!
  

Highway-rail Facts
Preliminary 2004 Statistics*

• In 2004, at least 368 people were killed and 1071 were seriously injured in 3,050 highway-rail grade crossing collisions (combined for public and private crossings).
  
• At least 483 people were killed and over 500 were injured while trespassing on railroad rights-of-way and property.
  
• Approximately every two hours, either a vehicle or a pedestrian is struck by a train in the United States. That's 12 incidents each day!
  
• A motorist is 40 times more likely to die in a crash involving a train than in a collision involving another motor vehicle.
  
• There are approximately 252,000 public, private and pedestrian at-grade highway-rail crossings in the United States. (A total of 152,500 are public crossings.)**
  
• More people die in highway-rail grade crossing crashes in the United States each year than in all commercial and general aviation crashes combined.
  
• Nearly 50 percent of vehicle/train collisions occur at crossings with active warning devices (gates, lights, bells).
  
• Most crashes occur within 25 miles of the motorist's home.
  
• Trains CANNOT stop quickly.
  
• Average freight train stopping distance:
  55 mph = a mile or more or 18 football fields!
• 8-car passenger train stopping distance:
  79 mph = a mile or more or 18 football fields!
• The majority of highway-rail crashes occur when the train is traveling less than 30 mph.
  
• Railroad tracks, trestles, yards and equipment are private property. Walking or playing on them is illegal – trespassers are subject to arrest and fines. Too often the penalty is death.
  

  *2004 Federal Railroad Administration statistics -August 2005
**Federal Railroad Administration Annual Report

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