Polk Township Vol. Fire Dept.

Look, Listen...and Live!

Everyone has seen it happen. You're stopped at a railroad crossing. The lights are flashing and the arms are down (if there are any). The traffic is starting to back up on both sides. You can't see or hear the train yet, but you know it's coming. But someone always gets impatient and can't wait a few minutes. They pull out into the other lane, speed up to the gates, and maybe slow down a little. Suddenly you hear the blast of the air horn, as the car zig-zags thru the arms only seconds before a 5-engine freight train rumbles through. Crazy?! Another close call with death! You probably can imagine what that conductor said as he hoped it wouldn't happen again!

How many more times will drivers gamble with their lives at railroad crossings? Is it because they are late for work or an appointment. What difference will a few minutes make? Did they assume: "I know the train doesn't come by this time of day". Didn't they stop, look and listen for an oncoming train? Too complacent maybe? Unfortunately for some, we'll never know the answer.

There is ABSOLUTELY no reason for not respecting railroad crossings! If you try and beat a 100-car freight train, you'll lose! And the train even wins ties! The destructive power and momentum of a freight train-car collision is relative to a car-pop can collision. And we've all crushed a pop can doing at least 30 m.p.h.!

Frightening statistics

In 1994, 615 people were killed and 1,961 seriously injured in 4,979 highway-rail crossing collisions.

529 people were killed while trespassing on railroad right-of-way and property.

Approximately every 90 minute, a vehicle and a train collide in the United States.

A motorist is 30 times more likely to die in a crash involving a train than a crash involving another vehicle.

More people die in highway-rail crashes each year than in commercial airline crashes in an average year.

Most train-car crashes occur within 25 miles of the motorist's home

The majority of the highway-rail crashes occur when the train is travelingless than 30 m.p.h.

A 150-car freight train's approximate stopping distance:

30 mph = 3,500 feet or 2/3 of a mile
50 mph = 8,000 feet or 1 1/2 miles

An 8-car passenger train's approximate stopping distance:

60 mph = 3,500 feet or 2/3 of a mile
79 mph = 6,000 feet or 1 1/8 miles

Driving tips

NEVER race a train to a crossing, you'll lose!

Don't get trapped on a crossing.

If your car stalls on a crossing, get yourself and any passengers out and away quickly!

EXPECT a train from either direction, they don't run on set schedules.

Lookout for the second train when crossing multiple tracks.

Use caution at night, don't overdrive the range of your headlights.

Turn your radio down and tell passengers to keep quiet when approaching a railroad crossing.

So the next time you come to a railroad crossing, please expect the train. We know that your family and friends will be thankful you did. Please save you own life and the lives of your passengers!

Back to Archives Back to Polk Fire Home Page

John D. Einhorn

Sources:Operation Lifesaver, Conrail, Union Pacific Railroad