Since most trains take a mile or more to come to a complete stop it is up to drivers to know when it is safe to drive through a railroad crossing. Although accidents at railroad crossings have declined over the years, the number of drivers that have attempted to go under or around lowered railroad crossing gates has increased, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
Going around or under a lowered gate may cause drivers to be struck by a train even if a train conductor hits the breaks upon seeing the driver. Many times, it is already too late. As recently as December 2021, two individuals were killed in a vehicle when the driver attempted to cross a railroad crossing in Aventura, Florida after the gate was already lowered.
According to nationwide statistics, it seems there are fewer fatalities attributed to train-car accidents in recent years, yet Florida’s new higher-speed rail Brightline may be proving the opposite. In data released by the Federal Railroad Administration on deaths not involving rail employees or passengers, the Miami Herald found that “Brightline has caused more fatalities per mile traveled than any other major rail operator in the country”.
As reported by NBC News, these accidents were not blamed on train equipment or crews, as investigations returned evidence that most victims were “either suicidal, intoxicated, mentally ill or had gone around barriers at an intersection in an attempt to beat the trains, which travel up to 79 mph through densely populated areas.”
Seven Key Tips For Staying Safe At Railroad Crossings
The NHTSA has identified seven key tips for crossing safely over railroad tracks. They are:
- Keeping in mind that trains always have the right of way, commuters should always come to a complete stop at a railroad crossing, and look and listen for an approaching train.
- Drivers should never stop on the railroad tracks. Before attempting to cross, a driver should make sure there is enough room for their car to get all the way across without stopping.
- There should be at least fifteen feet between a car and flashing red lights, lowered gates, a signaling flagman, or a stop sign. Some trains are three feet wider than the tracks.
- A driver should never attempt to go around or under a lowered gate, and should always adhere to all cautionary signals.
- If gates have been lowered, and a driver has come to a complete stop, they should wait until the gates are fully upright again, and lights have stopped flashing before crossing.
- As there may be more trains using a single track, drivers should never assume that the coast is clear after one train has crossed.
- If a driver’s car stalls on the tracks, they should immediately get everyone out of the car and a safe distance away from the vehicle. Drivers should always run away from the train tracks and never on the tracks. Once all passengers have evacuated the vehicle, the driver should call the number on the blue Emergency Notification System sign or 9-1-1. At no point should the driver or passengers attempt to move the car off the tracks.
An individual should also remember that it is against the law to be on or near train tracks in any type of vehicle.
Contact A Train Accident Lawyer
Even when a driver follows all of the tips mentioned, an accident between a vehicle and a train is still possible. While train collisions with cars are often fatal, survivors of train accidents often suffer traumatizing, life-altering injuries requiring costly medical attention, treatment, and time away from work to recover. A skilled train accident attorney can help an accident victim recover the necessary compensation needed for medical bills, lost wages, and other damages by determining liability after the incident.
In order to obtain compensation, it must be proven that an accident occurred as a result of a railroad company’s negligence. The laws which govern railroad safety are complex and require the assistance of an experienced law firm.
The attorneys at Panter, Panter, and Sampedro know the ins and outs of these laws and can conduct an investigation on your behalf to determine if the railroad company and its employees violated any laws, or operated its trains in an unsafe manner that caused the crash. If you or a loved one has been injured in a train accident, call 305-662-6178 for a free consultation.
Sources:
https://www.nhtsa.gov/campaign/railroad-crossing
https://panterlaw.com/transportation-traffic-accidents/train-accident/
https://www.miamiherald.com/article257073802.html
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/two-killed-florida-train-crash-car-ignores-crossing-gate-rcna10521
