(The following article was published in the January 6 online edition of the Lafayette Advertiser.)
LAFAYETTE, La. — In 2001, 22 Louisiana drivers lost their lives at highway-rail crossings making it the fourth highest highway-rail fatality rate in the nation, according to the Federal Railroad Administration.
Louisiana had 22 deaths and 93 injuries at rail crossings in 2001, with a population of 4.5 million. In California, with a population of 34.5 million, there were 53 deaths and 49 injuries.
Between January and September 2002, eight fatalities and
47 injuries were reported to the administration.
In Lafayette Parish in 2002, five vehicle-train accidents have been reported with one injury.
Educating drivers on the importance of yielding before crossing tracks is a hard fight when combating impatient and inattentive drivers, said Betsey Williams, executive director of Louisiana Operation Lifesaver, a nonprofit rail safety organization.
“The train has the right of way at every highway rail intersection or crossing,” Williams said. “Points where the highway and railway intersect are busy intersections,” she said.
Last week, an Acadiana businessman, Phil Harrower, was the latest fatality of a highway-
rail crossing accident when he attempted to cross the tracks at
the intersection of La. 182 and
La. 88, according to a Louisiana State Police report.
Louisiana Operation Lifesaver recommends the following to motorists:
— Never drive around lowered gates – it’s illegal and deadly.
— Never race a train to a crossing – even if you tie, you lose.
— Get out of your vehicle if it stalls on a crossing and call your local law enforcement agency for assistance. Only attempt to restart your car if you can post lookouts to warn of approaching trains.
— Watch out for a second train when crossing multiple tracks.
— Do not misjudge the train’s speed and distance.