Railroad Crossing Safety

"body">thousand more are critically injured annually. Some of
"Railroad Crossing; look out for the cars. Now can youthese collisions are purely accidental. A car stalling on
spell it without any R's?" When used incorrectly, athe tracks, or one that gets "hung up" due to low
railroad crossing can be a deadly intersection. Thinkclearance, for example. However, a large majority of
about it. An average train weighs over 12,000,000these devastating incidents are the result of
pounds, while the average automobile weighs a mereimpatience, inattention, or ignorance of the law. When
3,000 pounds. An impact between the two is aboutyou ignore the warnings and get on the tracks you not
the same difference as a car hitting a 12-ounce can ofonly put your own life at risk, but also the lives of
soda. You simply don't stand a chance. That's whyothers in the car and the lives of those on the train. It's
trains will always have the right of way for four verya much better use of your time to wait for a train then
simple reasons.to try and go around it. If you don't have time to sit and
wait for the train to pass, you probably don't have time
1. Trains are committed to the rails. They cannotto get hit either. Remember, keep off the tracks!
swerve and try to miss you.Railroads are a very important part of our modern
2. Trains are unable to stop quickly. It can take up to asociety. They allow for the speedy delivery of both
mile to stop an average 12,000,000 pound train,goods and people. Virtually everything that you eat,
traveling at 55 miles per hour.wear, sit on, listen to, watch, or enjoy was shipped by
3. Trains create optical illusions. The angle of approachrail at some point in time. Automobiles and trains can
can make a train appear to be moving much slowerexist together, but caution must be employed. Freight
than it actually is.trains can be running on any track, in any direction, at
4. Trains face a serious threat of derailing by stopping.any time. The responsibility is with you to keep an eye
Even if a train does manage to stop, it could come offout for them, and to yield to the train. When you reach
the tracks.any railroad crossing: Stop, look down the tracks, and
If you try to beat a train through the crossing, it willlisten. If a train is coming, wait for it. If the way is clear;
probably be your last race. When the warning armsquickly make your way across the tracks. If we're all a
come down...wait for the train to pass.little more careful around railroad crossings, many
Many tragedies occur every year where railways andaccidents can be avoided. "Use your brain...Don't mess
roads meet. Over 1,500 people are killed and severalwith the train!