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In North Carolina, there have been 10 deaths this year due to trains hitting pedestrians, and there have been a total of 16 train-pedestrian accidents.

In 2013, there were 21 pedestrian deaths, and 33 total accidents. North Carolina officials say that the number is high for the state, and they hope that deaths will decline later this year. They are putting out the word to make sure this happens.

The North Carolina Department of Transportation and the City of Greensboro last week did a rail safety ad campaign on Gillespie Street in Greensboro. The idea behind the event was to increase awareness about train safety. Police handed out flyers to pedestrians and drivers, and included the following tips:

  • Always assume there is train coming at every rail/road intersection.
  • Trains have the right of way over everything and everyone – pedestrians, bikers, fire engines, ambulances and police.
  • Trains stop slowly. Even with the emergency brake on, a 100 car train going 55 MPH takes a mile to stop.
  • Stop your car when the crossing gates are down and the lights are flashing, even if you do not see a train.
  • Do not ever race a train to the crossing.
  • Do not walk or ride your bike near train tracks.
  • Never walk near train tracks with earphones in, as you cannot hear the train coming.

One Comment

  1. Gravatar for Rob
    Rob

    Please remove this jury tampering BS.

    Things a REAL railroad Operation Lifesaver (OL) group would ask!!!

    1. Why are all OL directors handpuppets of the railroad or government only giving lip service safety messages?

    2. Why nothing is ever mentioned by OL that would cost the railroads a penny on the obviously missing safety equipment and track maintenance work?

    3. Where are the crossing safety signals for the trains going too fast with no brakes or steering at 1,000s of crossings?

    4. Where are the track video monitors for the trains going too fast with no brakes or steering to get the train stopped IN TIME?

    5. Why aren't railroads paying at least half for crossing signals because it's their trains going too fast with no brakes or steering while paying the so-called RR directors millions a year.

    6. Why the crossing humps trapping big trucks aren't required to be removed?

    7. Why the crossing surfaces aren't wider where if a vehicle fish tails on slick road and is trapped at the edge of the crossing surface trap?

    8. Why the train cabs aren't required to be lit up like a Christmas tree with emergency vehicle light bars? LOOK AND SEE!!

    9. Why the front of trains aren't required to have air bags or something to soften impacts?

    10. Why trains don't have better braking systems? OLIs message now shows train brakes obviously suck.

    11. Why there are no bidding invitations on the obviously overcharged crossing projects the tax-payers pay the railroads for. $10,000 just to get the equipment to the sight. TRUCKED IN.

    12. Why trains are allowed to run in the fog?

    13. Why the crossings aren't lit up so drivers can see the black rail cars across the tracks at night?

    14. Why railroads remove and steal signals we paid for on closed re-worked crossings?

    15. Why $$$millions$$$ of the rail safety budget we pay in is wasted on needless reworks at crossings preventing signals where needed?

    16. Why the railroad isn't required to de-ice crossings before they roll the trains?

    17. Why the railroad isn't required to raise their overpasses so big trucks can get under them? The railroad wants to double stack and our road overpasses are too low---no problem WE PAY MILLIONS.

    18. Why drug/alcohol tests aren't done on rail crews at crossing/pedestrian collisions?

    19. Why railroads are allowed to get off with the train black box , signal black box (if crossing signals are present), and cab video at crossing/pedestrian collisions?

    20. Why the fact is hidden that trains kill a few thousand people in 100 million train miles when regular drivers have like ONE death?

    21.Why Amtrak passengers aren't required to look at the despicable shape of the crossings before they board the trains?

    22.Why train horns aren't blown at private crossings till the last second freezing drivers?

    23.Why the railroads track lights can't be at a crossing?

    24 .Why railroads need track lights and civilians don't?

    WAITING FOR OLI/OLI.CA response.

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