Train accidents reflect risks of driving near rural railroad tracks,crossings

Carol Forsloff - Two recent train accidents in
Illinois reveal that dangers are present in rural areas or near rural
crossings, even in Natchitoches, Louisiana where a major train
intersection occurs and even in cities where mass transit is touted.


Like many small towns, especially
in rural areas, there are train tracks that run through the city of
Natchitoches.  And just like other towns, it also divides the town in
many ways, the black and white, the poor and the "doing better."  There is, indeed, some truth in living on the other side of the tracks in Natchitoches, but even in Oregon where those tracks divide new Hispanic communities from the mainstream, old-timers in the white communities.

But the worries about accidents should concern folks on both sides, because the facts are it's a risky place to be.

Children live in the small houses
near those railroad tracks, and the blow of a whistle might not be loud
or long enough for a child to pay attention.



A train can come along when someone
gets stuck, or a car gets caught somewhere along those tracks.
Vigilance is the key to safety in those conditions.



In California there has been strong
concern expressed about the risks of railroad crossings.  The Los
Angeles Times reported in 2009 about the accidents that had occurred
that year.  The article underlined the fact that railroad crossings in
key areas often have no signals or safety gates.



That's also true in some areas of small towns like Natchitoches, Louisiana where schoolchildren are known to play.



Illinois ranks among the top states
nationally in the number of railway accidents every year, due in part
to the fact that it has the second highest number of railway crossings
in the country, after Texas. While train collisions with vehicles in
Illinois were at a ten-year low in 2009, they still resulted in 16
fatalities statewide.



In other words the greater the area for railroad tracks, the greater the possibility for accidents.



In late July, a mail carrier was
killed when his truck was struck by a Canadian National freight train
and pushed down the track one-sixth of a mile  near Keenes in southern
Illinois.   He was one of a number of victims authorities describe in
outlining the problems that occur near railroad tracks.  As is the case
with most rural crossings, no lights, bells or crossing gates were in
place to warn the driver that a train was approaching.



Because of the potential for accidents involving trains, those involved with either the legal aspect or the transportation safety guidelines give suggestions on how to spot hazards



They say it is too easy for
motorists to become complacent about intersecting with railroad tracks.
Impatience, traffic, obstructions, distractions and malfunctioning
safety signals can all lead drivers to take high-stakes risks. A car
waits, and the driver gets tired of waiting and forges ahead.  That's
when accidents happen.



Train accidents all too frequently
lead to catastrophic injuries and deaths because the impact on the much
lighter motor vehicle is almost always cataclysmic.



With high-speed rail becoming a
national priority and train speeds forecast to double and even triple in
coming decades, the need for individual awareness and smart public
policy will increase, especially in metropolitan areas, like Portland,
Oregon where mass transit is the name of the game.



For those in rural areas, it's common sense precautions and not moving across the tracks until it's safe to do so.



Either way, experts tell us, it's time to pay attention.ht about legal options and prospects for recovery.






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