· Railroads are private property; those who trespass are subject to fines or arrest[1]
· Many modern trains approach silently and most do not follow set schedules
· Most freight trains are approaching faster than they appear
· It can take up to a mile (or 18 football field lengths) for a train going 40 miles per hour to come to a complete stop
· 500 people annually die while trespassing on railroad property[2]
· Trains have the right-of-way over cars, emergency vehicles and pedestrians in the State of Michigan[3]
What can you do to be safe near the tracks?
· Look both directions before crossing
· End all cell phone calls and take out earphones prior to crossing
· Near an area that has two tracks, be on the lookout for a train to come from either direction. Just because one passed going one way, doesn’t mean another isn’t behind it or going the opposite way
· Only cross in designated areas for pedestrians
Sources:
[1] Operation Lifesaver. (2012). Pedestrian safety. Retrieved from: http://oli.org/education-resources/pedestrian-safety
[2] Federal Railroad Administration. (2008). Rail trespasser fatalities: developing demographic profiles. Retrieved from: http://www.fra.dot.gov/downloads/safety/tdreport_final.pdf
[3] Michigan Legislature. (2009). Michigan Compliance Law 462.273: railroad code of 1993. Retrieved from: http://www.legislature.mi.gov/%28S%28flceljf0ktxrfvuacx53uu45%29%29/mileg.aspx?page=GetObject&objectname=mcl-462-273
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