(The following story by Jonathan Willis appeared on the Times Daily website on September 27. Tim Wagnon is a Norfolk Southern engineer and a member of BLET Division 423 in Tuscumbia, Ala.)
FLORENCE, Ala. — Motorists at the railroad crossing here were greeted Wednesday by officials warning them about the dangers they could encounter if they are not safe and aware.
Gov. Bob Riley declared this week train safety awareness week, prompting volunteers from Operation Lifesaver and Norfolk Southern to stop motorists at dangerous crossings, such as the one on Main Street in Leighton.
Tim Wagnon, a locomotive engineer with Norfolk Southern and an Operation Lifesaver volunteer, handed out pamphlets at the intersection warning of railroad crossing dangers.
In 2005, there were 124 vehicle-train collisions in Alabama, resulting in 11 fatalities and 48 injuries, according to Operation Lifesaver statistics.
“Alabama ranks eighth in the nation in the number of crashes and number 11 for fatalities,” Wagnon said. “In Alabama, we like to be high in the polls, but this is a statistic we don’t want to be high on.”
Local representatives with Norfolk Southern said there has not been a fatality resulting from a vehicle-train collision in a while.
“Public education and upgrading railroad crossings have made a dramatic difference,” Wagnon said.
Leighton Police Chief Kenny Wallace said railroad-crossing violations are a major problem that needs to be addressed.
“People need to be aware of the laws at crossings,” Wallace said. “When there is a train in sight, motorists are supposed to stop.”
Wagnon said the campaign has been an effective way of warning motorists about railroad crossings.
“It has been important in getting word out about the things motorists should look for,” he said. “Trains always have the right-of-way and motorists are supposed to always yield at crossings. The more we do to educate drivers, the more lives we can save.”