About every three hours, a person or vehicle is hit by a train, according to Operation Lifesaver, a national organization that promotes safety along railroad tracks and crossings.
In Missouri, the awareness effort was increased during the recent observance of Rail Safety Week.
Officials with the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT), State Highway Patrol and Missouri Operation Lifesaver joined in activities and promotions to emphasize the theme, "See Tracks? Think Train!"
The tendency is to think a train could easily be avoided. Trains are large, noisy and cannot stray from the tracks.
But train collisions involving pedestrians and vehicles continue to occur. In Missouri last year, 62 crossing crashes and trespass incidents resulted in 23 fatalities and 26 injuries.
Freight and passenger rail traffic is active in Central Missouri, which includes a number of grade-level crossings where no signals or gates are present.
Although efforts to upgrade crossings continue, much work remains. MoDOT Railroad Administrator Eric Curtit said the department "works with the railroads to upgrade public crossings with lights and gates, LED lights and more reflective signing." He adds, however, "With our limited funding, we do 25 to 30 signal upgrades per year."
We all have a role to play in safety in and around railroad property.
Patrol Capt. John Hotz, public information and education director, said: "We are constantly striving to reduce crashes and eliminate deaths and injuries with both crossing collisions and trespasser incidents. We encourage everyone to take these warning devices seriously and pay attention at all railroad crossings. Also please remember railroad tracks are private property, and trespassing is dangerous and illegal."
A train cannot stop quickly or change direction.
The solutions are for pedestrians to avoid railroad tracks completely and for motorists to cross them safely.