I went to a great presentation this weekend from an Amtrak Police Officer, (who knew, right?) There are a few things you should know about how stay safe around train tracks. According to their website, there were 2205 grade crossing incidents, with 828 trespassing casualties in 2018. Never assume that tracks are not in use just because you have never seen a train there. Trains can come at any time of day or night. They travel very fast and often very quietly. They will try to alert you to their presence, but they cannot stop quickly or easily, and they cannot swerve around you.
There are only active warning such as flashing lights and arms that come down at about 1 out of 3 places that tracks go across roads, and much too often, people ignore them and either go around them or try to beat them. It is our job as drivers and pedestrians to avoid trains.
If you see or hear a train coming, you must stop at least 15 feet and no more then 50 feet away from the nearest track for good sight distance. Look both ways at each track, and be sure to check each direction if there is more than one track.
If you are stuck on the tracks, and you do not see a train, find the blue sign with the phone number and location number on it. This number will connect you directly with the operators for your area and oncoming trains can be notified and stopped withing minutes. If you see or hear a train coming, get everyone out and run in a 45 degree angle towards the train so that when the debris from the collision is scattered, you will not be in it’s path.
http://stayoffthetracks.org/index.html
