railroad crossing safety tips
Safety

Railroad Crossing Safety Tips for Drivers

When out on the road, you’re bound to encounter a hazard or two from time to time. Sometimes these situations can arise due to the negligence of a distracted driver. Other times, danger can ensure from something as simple as a misplaced traffic cone. These hazards, regardless of how big or small, have an immediate impact on those in close proximity. That’s why it is essential for all drivers to keep a vigilant eye out for any unsafe driving practices or substandard conditions while behind the wheel. Railroad crossings are one place in particular where a sudden mishap can quickly turn into a life-threatening injury or death. Unfortunately, these scenarios happen every day across the country, which is why the concern for collisions between freight and commuter trains and vehicles has grown more prevalent in recent years. In this post, we’ll give you access to the best railroad crossing safety tips to ensure you and your loved ones are best protected.

5 railroad crossing safety tips to consider

Traffic lights, intersections, and major highways are often where you hear the majority of crashes take place. However, according to the NHTSA, railroad crossing incidents are not that uncommon as well, both in high-traffic and remote environments. In 2021, there were nearly 1,600 collisions between freight and commuter trains and vehicles. These devastating crashes were almost always preventable given better precaution had been taken.

Tip #1: When crossing a railroad track, approach the area with caution. In other words, it’s a good time to slow your speed. This gives you the ability to look both ways to see if a train is coming. And worst case, enough time to come to a complete stop before the train enters the actual crossing zone.

Tip #2: Learn your state’s traffic laws to avoid confusion. Aside from knowing the signage and proper etiquette for handling passing trains, do the extra legwork to familiarize yourself with key safety signals and laws, like who has the right-of-way.

Tip #3: Never stop your vehicle on the tracks. Whether you’re waiting for a green light or trying to avoid getting stuck on the wrong side of the tracks, it’s never worth putting your safety at risk. Without awareness, you could easily get stuck in between the warning gates when the crossing signals start ringing.

Tip #4: Never try to outrace the train. In a hurry or not, speeding up to a railroad crossing is just asking for trouble. Because trains travel at incredibly high speeds, the impact with another vehicle is often destructive.

Tip #5: If your car stalls on a train track, exit the vehicle immediately and move to a safe location. Call emergency services and inform local officials of the vehicle on the tracks.

How to safely navigate railroad crossings

As important as it is to have a visual of the train, it’s just as crucial to have audio evidence. Avoid playing music too loud or taking part in any distraction that could pose a threat to your safety when crossing the tracks.

When approaching a railroad crossing:

Slow your speed. Look both ways. And listen. Once you enter the crossing, keep moving forward until safely on the other side.

When waiting for a train to pass:

Remain patient and stop at least 15 feet from the gates. Once the lights stop flashing and gates rise, you then may head on your way.

Final thoughts

In any scenario, it’s important to remember that the train always has the right of way. Though transit crossing rules may vary from state-to-state, safety experts recommend looking both ways each time you cross at a railroad crossing. Because freight and high-speed commuter trains can take up to a mile or more to come to a complete stop, there is very little room for error. It is the driver’s responsibility to abide by railroad crossing safety rules at all times.

We hope you enjoyed our informative feature on railroad crossing safety tips! But we’d love to hear from you: what driving practices do you follow each day to improve your safety on the road?

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Linzi Martin
Linzi Martin has worked as a content manager, consultant, and writer for the past six years. She's handled everything from blogs and articles to e-books and social media content. Her work has been featured in various publications including Apartment Guide, The Startup, and Voyage Magazine. Outside of work, Linzi enjoys staying active, frequenting new restaurants around South Florida, and spending time with her family.

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