Illinois Rail Safety Week September 14 through 20
Raising awareness of Train Versus Motor Vehicle/Pedestrian Collisions

[September 16, 2014]  LINCOLN - SPRINGFIELD - During Illinois Rail Safety Week, which runs from September 14th to September 20th, the Illinois State Police District 9 wants to promote safety for motorists and pedestrians around railroad tracks. According to Operation Lifesaver, there are several factors that contribute to the occurrence of a train versus motor vehicle/pedestrian collision:
 

A motorist/pedestrian will see a train coming, but grossly misjudge the actual speed and distance of the train.

A motorist will try and beat a train to the crossing and either gets struck by the train or runs into the side of the train.

As a train clears a crossing, the motorist/pedestrian immediately starts across the tracks without looking for other trains and either strikes or is struck by a train running on an adjacent track.

A motorist becomes “too familiar” with a crossing and uses no caution whatsoever when coming to the crossing.

The motorist fails to observe and obey the advance railroad warning sign and other crossing warning signs and signals.

A motorist is intoxicated and cannot properly operate a motor vehicle.

A motorist overdrives his/her headlights at night or fails to properly adapt his/her driving speed to the prevailing weather conditions and thus drives into the side of the train.

A motorist/pedestrian becomes distracted by things such as cellular telephones, loud music, passengers, GPS systems, texting devices, etc. and becomes oblivious to his/her surroundings.

Avoid a costly citation; obey all laws associated with railroad grade crossings and property. Illinois State Police District 9 Commander Scott Compton wants motorists and pedestrians to remember to look and listen prior to crossing train tracks. For more information about Illinois Rail Safety Week, please visit www.illinoisrailsafetyweek.org
 

[RELEASE BY THE AUTHROITY OF CAPTAIN SCOTT COMPTON, ILLINOIS STATE POLICE]