While trains seem like an outdated mode of transportation, they are still a part of our daily lives today – whether you know it or not.
Check out these statistics: If you’re in a vehicle hit by a train, you are 20 times more likely to die than in an accident involving another vehicle. Perhaps even more shocking, a train hits a person or object every 90 minutes on average.
Here are the common causes of most railroad accidents and some safety tips to keep you and your passengers safe when travelling near a railroad.
Causes of Railroad Accidents
The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) categorizes accidents into 6 major causes:
- Equipment
- Highway-Rail
- Human
- Miscellaneous
- Signal
- Track
By far the most common cause of a railroad accident is human error. According to statistics from the Federal Railroad Administration, human error accounted for approximately 35% of railroad accidents in 2016, while problems with the railroad signal only accounted for about 2% of railroad accidents.
Although human error accounts for most accidents, the majority (over 95%) of casualties happen at highway-rail crossings. There were 265 fatalities at railroad crossings in 2016.
Don’t become a statistic. When crossing railroad tracks, stay alert and use caution.
Safety Tips for Cars
- Cross quickly when driving over the tracks.
- Never race to get across the tracks before the train. Trains move faster than you think. Their speed can be deceiving, and trains cannot stop quickly.
- Don’t drive around lowered gates.
- Don’t stop on the tracks.
Safety Tips for Pedestrians
- Only cross at public crossings.
- Don’t trespass on tracks, trestles, yards or equipment.
- Don’t cross right after the train has passed. The first train can hide a second train or a train coming on the other side of the tracks.
- Don’t cross until the gates are up and the flashing red lights stop.