This article is sponsored by Louisville & Indiana Railroad
Strides have been made over the decades when it comes to deadly train collisions at railroad crossings.
But even considering the decrease in these stats, data shows that one category of railway crashes is still a serious issue.
According to the Federal Railroad Administration, 333 crashes occurred in 2020 among drivers who went around the gate at a crossing. Of these, 91 resulted in fatalities.
The numbers are very close to the 10-year high of 336 crashes in 2018, 99 of which resulted in deaths.
An important takeaway from these numbers: Heed safety guidelines.
In every state, it is against the law to bypass crossing gates. Drivers are required by law to adhere to lowered crossing gates and safety lights.
Data around collisions has ignited improvements at railroad crossings around the country.
In Southern Indiana, 51 crossings have been improved or are in the process of being upgraded since the end of 2018.
Many of these, like the Johnson County Rail Corridor Safety Improvement project, were funded by a combination of federally and locally allocated funds, and in cooperation with private railroads and community funding.
This initiative in particular saw the improvement of 16 railroad crossings (and the closing of one) to ensure safety among residents in Franklin, Greenwood, Whiteland and other areas of Johnson County.
If you find yourself at a crossing, it is vital to look both ways and listen for approaching trains.
If the gate is down, wait for a train to pass — never go around.
And make sure never to stop on the tracks. If for some reason you do find yourself at a halt and your vehicle is unable to move, leave the tracks and look for the blue and white Emergency Notification System sign, which should be located near the familiar flashing red lights or other infrastructure around the crossing.
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