The rules of rail safety

But nothing is so important as to risk your life by getting somewhere a few seconds earlier by trying to beat a train across the tracks.

Operation Lifesaver, a nationwide nonprofit public information program is dedicated to reducing collisions, injuries and fatalities at rail crossings. The organization began in 1972 when the average number of collisions at U.S. highway-rail grade crossings had risen above 12,000 incidents annually.

That number has dramatically decreased to about 1,000 fatalities nationwide, but local Operation Lifesaver instructors Darwin Joslyn and David Grashorn say that’s still too many.

Borderland, with its many rail crossings, is lucky to have two instructors in our community. A presentation last week offered insightful information about rail safety and dramatic examples of how easily someone’s activities can have tragic results. We encourage other groups and organizations to invite a presentation, and ask the public to do their part by visiting www.oli.org to learn more about rail safety.

We’ve all seen or heard about people crossing railroad tracks by swerving around crossing arms or hitting the gas to beat an oncoming train. People who exercise this foolhardy behavior never think they will be one of the unlucky who is hit by a train.

But as Grashorn and Joslyn noted, trains travel faster than they appear, and a fatal accident affects an entire community, including the rail crew that witnessed, but could not avoid, the accident.

Look, listen and live is the message from Operation Lifesaver. But other ideas that came from the presentation included “stay off, stay away and stay alive,” when it comes to trespassing on rail property or stopped train cars.

Clearly, accidents involving trains, vehicles and people can be avoided if we comply with existing state laws and follow the messages of Operation Lifesaver.

Nothing is as important as the safety of family, friends and the community.