Key Factors to Preventing Accidents at Railroad Crossings

Key Factors to Preventing Accidents at Railroad Crossings

Education Is Key To Preventing Accidents At Railroad Crossings

When drivers are aware of the dangers of trying to cross railroad tracks while trying to beat a train, they often will take a step back and think first before taking an unnecessary risk. Records of car and train collisions as far back as 1981 showed that there were over 9,400 train and vehicle accidents. By the year 2014, the number had dropped to about 2,000. Education may be partly responsible for lowering the numbers of vehicle and train accidents. More education may help lower these numbers even more.

Many drivers are simply unaware of the dangers. Large objects tend to look like they’re moving slower than smaller objects. This is deceiving and can make drivers believe they have time to get across tracks, when in reality they don’t. Some of the major causes of accidents are misjudgment of a train’s speed and faulty perception of distance on the driver’s part.

Conscientious Railroad Employees Contribute To Lowering Accident Rates

Employees of railroads and the management of railroad companies both play crucial roles in helping to lower the incidences of car and train accidents. Through initiatives in cooperation with local communities, some companies provide education to their communities by sponsoring helpful free safety presentations.

This education helps to increase the community’s understanding of the hazards posed by train tracks that run through urban and suburban areas. Other places to find helpful information include reading educational online formats like Clarence Gooden’s Blog. Mr. Gooden is an executive of CSX Corporation. Lowering incidences of risky behavior on the part of the public and raising awareness of risks is the goal of these valuable sources of accurate information.

Crucial Facts And Statistics Of Car And Train Accidents

When a driver approaches a train crossing, there are only seconds to make a decision about how fast the train is approaching and whether they have time to get across the tracks safely. This requires the driver to be able to accurately assess the train’s speed, which can be easy to misjudge. When drivers are educated, knowing crucial facts and statistics like these can help them to make safer decisions.

• Almost two-thirds of all accidents at railroad crossings happen during daylight hours
• Motorists are almost twenty times more likely to die in a collision with a train than with another smaller vehicle
• Distracted driving plays a role in driver’s not being aware of surroundings and making bad decisions
• Nearly two-thirds of all accidents involving private vehicles and trains happen at intersections that have adequate automatic train warning systems like flashing lights and barriers that lower upon the train’s approach

Lesser Known Causes Of Train And Car Accidents To Be Aware Of

A lesser known contributor to railroad crossing accidents happens when signals are set to go off when the train is still a distance away. This gives drivers a false belief that they still have plenty of time before the train gets there to cross the tracks.

Another factor in accidents can be sun glaring while driver’s are approaching railroad tracks. Train warning lights tend to have low intensity and a narrow field. Bright sunlight can obscure a driver’s vision and perception. Knowledge can help decrease incidents of car and train accidents.