(The following story was published in the Gainesville Times online edition on January 30)
GAINESVILLE, Ga. — Most motorists take trains for granted.
There’s a vehicle-train collision every 90 minutes across the United States. A vehicle-train collision has a 30 percent greater chance of resulting in death. A train stopped because of a collision is losing about $10,000 per hour.
There are two major railroad companies that travel through Hall County. CSX Railroad has lines that run down Candler Highway (Ga. 60) and end in downtown Gainesville behind the Hall County Detention Center.
Norfolk Southern Railroad has lines that run through Flowery Branch, Oakwood, Gainesville and Lula. These companies haul various cargo, from industrial chemicals to new vehicles.
There are more than 170,000 railroad grade crossings across the United States, with more than 6,500 in Georgia.
Not every railroad grade crossing has active crossing arms. Many have passive advanced warning devices called crossbucks. Either type of crossing should be treated with caution. Motorists should stop, look and listen.
Georgia law requires taxicabs, public transit vehicles and school buses to stop at every railroad crossing.
Never expect a train to follow a schedule. Always be prepared for them.
If a vehicle breaks down while on a railroad track, get everyone out and call for help. Notify 911 of the location and stay out of the car. Dispatchers will notify railroad officials, who will then contact any train in the area.
If a train approaches while you’re near a vehicle stuck on the tracks, run away from it to at least a 90-degree angle.
Trying to outrun a train by running in the same direction goes against the laws of motion. The train could push the vehicle off the tracks and into your path.
Trains have right of way at crossings. Never stop on a crossing while waiting for a green light at an intersection. Stay back and wait until there’s room to cross.
Despite popular belief, most vehicle-train collisions occur during daylight hours and with the train traveling less than 35 mph.
Fifty-two percent of collisions involving vehicles and trains occur at crossings with crossing arms and within 25 miles of the driver’s home. Trains weigh an average of about 60,000 tons, or 120 million pounds.
Unlike a vehicle’s speed at an intersection, a train’s speed is more deceiving and harder to determine. A train traveling at 55 mph will take more than a mile to stop.
When approaching a crossing, always be aware of multiple tracks. Make sure you can see clearly in both directions before crossing multiple tracks.
Never try to beat a train across the tracks. If you tie with a train, you lose.