Driving On The Right Side Of The Road Railroad

driving on the right side of the road railroad crossings just the facts * in a collision with a train, you are

Driving on the Right Side of the Road
Railroad Crossings

JUST THE FACTS
*
In a collision with a train, you are 40 times more likely to be
killed than if you were in a collision with another car.1
*
A train hits someone in America every 115 minutes.2
*
Nearly 2,000 Americans are killed and injured at railway crossings
each year.3
*
The average train weighs 12 million pounds, outweighing a car
about 4,000 to 1.4
*
A train traveling at 50 mph, pulling 100 cars, takes one mile to
stop.5
IT’S THE LAW
*
Texas law requires motorists to yield the right of way to trains.6
*
It is against the law to cross tracks if a train is visible or to
drive around gates that have been lowered at a railroad crossing.7
*
If the gates are down and no train is coming, the road is closed.
*
School/transit buses and trucks carrying hazardous materials must
come to a complete stop at all railroad crossings.8
KEEP IT SAFE
*
Reduce speed when approaching railroad crossings and look both
ways. Listen for the sound of a train.9
*
Turn down your stereo and listen for a train.10
*
If red lights are flashing or if the crossing arms have been
lowered, stop.11
*
Be sure all tracks are clear before crossing – there may be more
than one set of tracks.12
*
Do not play along railroad tracks.
*
Never pass another vehicle within 100 feet of a railroad crossing.13
*
Not all railroad crossings are marked with gates or flashing
signals – this is especially true in rural areas.
*
Be careful not to rear-end vehicles, such as school buses, that
stop before crossing the tracks even when the gates are not down.
What Other Safety Tips Can You Suggest?
ADDitional Resources
*
http://fcs.tamu.edu/safety/passenger_safety/youth_traffic_safety.php
1 Texas Department of Transportation, Safety Tips – Additional Driving
Tips, Retrieved on August 31, 2012 from
http://www.dot.state.tx.us/safety/tips/other.htm (hereinafter referred
to as TxDOT Additional Driving Tips).
2 Texas Department of Insurance, Railroad Crossing Safety FactSheet,
Retrieved on September 29, 2011 from
http://www.tdi.texas.gov/pubs/videoresource/fsrailroadcross.pdf
(hereinafter referred to as TxDOT Railroad Crossing Safety FactSheet).
3 See TxDOT Railroad Crossing Safety FactSheet – endnote 2
4 See TxDOT Railroad Crossing Safety FactSheet – endnote 2
5 See TxDOT Railroad Crossing Safety FactSheet – endnote 2
6 Texas Transp. Code § 545.251.
7 Texas Transp. Code § 545.251.
8 Texas Transp. Code §§ 545.253-545.254.
9 See TxDOT Additional Driving Tips – endnote 1
10 See TxDOT Additional Driving Tips – endnote 1
11 See TxDOT Additional Driving Tips – endnote 1
12 See TxDOT Additional Driving Tips – endnote 1
13 See TxDOT Railroad Crossing Safety FactSheet – endnote 2
DRSR, Information Sheet: Railroad Crossings 2 of 3
Last revised on September 29, 2011
www.tmcec.com/mtsi, www.drsr.info, or www.texaslre.org