(Atlantic) National Railroad Safety week dedicated to railway and train safety wrapped up this past week.
Iowa State Patrol Trooper and District 4 Public Information Officer Shelby McCreedy says in 2019, nationwide there were 2,216 vehicles versus train collisions resulting in 293 deaths and 807 injuries. This correlates to every three hours a car or a pedestrian is struck by a train.
McCreedy admits these accidents happen more frequently than a person might think.
McCreedy points put trains have the right-of-way 100-percent of the time, and the train you see is faster moving and closer that one might think.
Railroad crossing tips:
*Never drive around lowered gates; proceed through a highway-rail grade crossing only if you’re sure you can completely clear the crossing without stopping.
*If your vehicle stalls on the tracks, get out and get away, even if a train is not in sight. Locate the Emergency Notification System sign and call the number provided, tell them about the stalled vehicle.
*While at a rail crossing, wait for a train to pass and look for a second train, and when crossing railroad tracks, cross the tracks quickly without stopping. And always expect a train.
