Saturday, January 26, 2008

Training Crossing Safety Tips

One of the most common types of train accidents happens when vehicle are attempting to cross the train tracks while a train is in the area. There are signals that are to be activated when a train is approaching a crossing, but they have been known to malfunction from time to time. Many people don’t pay attention to them either as they assume if they can’t see the train they still have time to get across the tracks.

It is a good idea to always stop at any train crossing just in case the signals aren’t working properly. Take the time to look and to listen for a train approaching. If you have any indication that one may be coming your way, don’t attempt to cross the tracks. You don’t want to take such a risk. If there are no gates present at the train crossing you should stay behind the painted line on the road. This way you aren’t in the line of rocks or other debris being thrown your way as the train passes by.

The number of people who don’t pay attention to the signals at a train crossing is unbelievable. They often believe they can beat the train and they don’t want to be held up waiting for it to cross in front of it. While some people have been able to successfully beat the train, others aren’t so lucky. The impact from a train in that type of scenario is too much to walk away from without injuries or death occurring. Your life if worth more than a few minutes of your time.

It is important to realize that there may be a second train closely behind the first. Many train related accidents occur when people at the signal lights decide to go forward even though the lights are still flashing. They assume that since the train has completely gone by them they are safe to proceed. Don’t put yourself at risk of being hit by another train that my be following behind the other one.

You may think it only happens in the movies, but occasionally vehicles due die out as a person is going across the railroad tracks. Don’t sit there and try to get it across. Instead you need to get out of the car and a safe distance away. Use a phone to call the local police department so they can notify the railway company about the incident.

Approximately every 90 minutes there is a train wreck in the United States involving a train and a vehicle. Don’t let the next one involve you when it is very easy to protect yourself against such accidents. Remember that it takes a train approximately one mile of distance to be able to stop when they are traveling at a speed of 55 miles per hour.

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