According to the Federal Railroad Administration, there were 2,398 accidents and incidents at railroad crossings in 2008. Of this number, 286 incidents involved fatalities.
There are approximately 139,862 public railroad crossings in the United States. More than 50,000 of those crossings are gated, while almost 90,000 are equipped only with warning lights. A gate does not make a crossing safer. Approximately one-half of all crossing incidents occur where no gates are present.
Railroad crossings are marked with passive and active warning devices. Passive devices include signs and pavement markings in advance of the crossing. Active devices include gate arms, warning lights and bells.
Cross railroad tracks only at designated crossings. When crossing tracks, listen and look both ways. Never race a train to the crossing. It is illegal to go around lowered crossing gates. If a train is approaching the crossing, stop at least 15 feet from the rail.
Trains cannot stop quickly; it takes almost a mile and a half for a train traveling at normal speed to stop. Trains can also move in either direction and are often pushed by locomotives rather than pulled. Never cross tracks unless there is room on the other side to completely clear the tracks.
