I Brake for Trains Because They Can't Brake for Me
What you don't know about trains can hurt you.
Most people who are hurt by trains aren't trying to do anything dangerous.
People who walk on the tracks think they'll hear the train coming in time to move.
People who cut through crossing arms think they have plenty of time to get across the tracks.
Hundreds of people are killed – and thousands are injured – every year because of these assumptions. The more you understand about trains, the less likely you are to take your safety for granted on the tracks.
Trains can be surprisingly quiet.
- You won't always hear a horn or the clacking of the wheels.
- Stop, look and really listen before you cross the tracks. If you're in a car at a crossing, you should turn off your radio and your air conditioning, and roll down your window, so that you can hear a train coming.
- Definitely don't text, talk on a cell phone or use headphones on or near the tracks.
Trains are always moving faster and are closer than you'd think.
- So, if you can see a train at a crossing, stop. Don't try to beat it.
- And if you can't see a train – but the crossing arm is down or the lights are flashing, stop. The only safe thing to assume is that a train is on its way.
Trains can't stop in time to avoid hitting you – even if the engineer sees you on the tracks. A train can take a full mile to stop.
- And if they do hit you, you're on the losing side of physics. The weight ratio of a car to a train is proportional to a soda can and a car.