Train Danger
April
22, 2005 – In Warren, Maine, a train smashed into an ATV stuck on the
railroad tracks, launching the ATV 120 feet in the air. A man and his son who
were on the ATV were able to leap to safety before the crash occurred.
In Savannah, Georgia, a 25-year-old man was killed when a train rammed into the back of his ATV on a train trestle that crossed a river.
In Jefferson, Ohio, a 14-year-old boy and his 13-year-old buddy were found dead near some railroad tracks. Authorities believe their ATV may have been struck by a train.
These are just some of the poignant examples of the danger of riding ATVs on, or along, railroad tracks. According to the Federal Railroad Administration, 577 people were killed and 576 were injured from January through November 2004 while trespassing on railroad property.
How many of those victims were riding ATVs is unknown.
Operation Lifesaver, a national, non-profit education and awareness program dedicated to ending tragic collisions, fatalities and injuries at highway-rail grade crossings and on railroad rights-of-way, warns that railroad tracks, trestles, yards and equipment are private property.
That means that riding your ATV on railroad tracks, or along them, is illegal. And trespassers face arrest and fines.
There are 200,000 miles of railroad tracks in the United States. And since 1990, more than 5,000 people have been killed while trespassing on railroad rights-of-way and property, Operation Lifesaver says.
Someone is hit by a train in the United States about every three hours.
How is that possible?
According to Operation Lifesaver, trains can't stop quickly. A freight train moving at 55 mph, or an eight-car passenger train moving at 79 mph, can take a mile or more to stop. That means that even if a train engineer sees your ATV on the tracks, he or she probably won't be able to stop the train before hitting you.
And if you think you'll hear the train coming and be able to get out of the way, think again. Operation Lifesaver says that modern trains are quieter than ever, with no telltale "clackety-clack" sound being made. Plus, an approaching train is probably closer and moving faster than you think.
Also remember that if there are two lines of tracks you're not safe if you're riding, or even standing, between them. That's because trains overhang the tracks by at least three feet on each side, and Operation Lifesaver notes that loose straps hanging from rail cars may extend even further. If you're in the right-of-way next to the tracks, you can be hit by a train.
Something else to remember, Operation Lifesaver says, is that it isn't OK to cross railroad tracks anywhere as long as you can see a quarter-mile in each direction.
The only safe place to cross is at a designated public crossing with either a crossbuck, flashing red lights or a gate, Operation Lifesaver says. If you cross anywhere else, you are trespassing and can be ticketed and fined.
And even if you do cross the tracks at a designated public crossing, it's not safe to cross the tracks as soon as the last car of a train passes. That's because a second train might be blocked by the first. Operation Lifesaver notes that trains can come from either direction, so you should wait until you can see clearly around the first train in both directions before crossing the tracks.
So when you're out enjoying your ATV, be sure to stay away from railroad tracks. Not only is it illegal to ride next to them or on them, but it could cost you your life.
(For more information on Operation Lifesaver, go to www.oli.org.)