Always Expect a Train
Better regulations, enforcement, engineering, and training have greatly reduced train and motor vehicle collisions across the United States. In fact, Federal Railroad Administration data show collisions declined 83 percent from 12,000 in 1972 to 2,123 in 2017, significantly reducing fatalities and injuries. However, reaching zero collisions requires more education, especially on how to drive safely through railroad crossings.
While trains collide with trucks at railroad crossings far less than with cars, truck collisions can be much more severe.Attempting to beat a train at a railroad crossing is always a bad decision that can cost your life. Trains are closer and faster than they may seem from a truck cab window. The average freight train traveling at 55 mph needs a mile or more to stop. By the time a train engineer sees you, it’s nearly always too late for them to fully stop before hitting you. The more you know about railroad crossing safety, the better prepared you’ll be to drive and thrive each day. Use the following tips to stay safe at railroad crossings.
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