(The following story by Scott Sims appeared on The Morning Sun website on June 27.)
PITTSBURG, Kan. — Being stopped while driving your vehicle usually means the driver has done something wrong.
Tuesday, local representatives of railroad companies and law enforcement were stopping cars to raise awareness of railway safety.
Kansas City Southern (KCS), Watco and the Pittsburg Police Department were at the South Kansas and Oklahoma Railroad Crossing east of Broadway on Quincy, handing out brochures, coloring books, key chains and other reminder items to vehicles passing by.
Motorists also received coupons for Sonic Drive-In for stopping at the railroad crossing.
“People need to remember to look for trains, at crossings day or night,” said Timothy Francis, KCS Trainmaster. “Whether the lights are flashing or not, slow down yield for the crossing.”
The program is part of Operation Lifesaver, an international education and awareness program established in 1972.
“It takes a train quite a few feet once they hit the break to be able to stop,” said Sgt. Melanie Schaper of the Pittsburg Police Department. “When the railroad crossing arms come down and people try to go around, if the train is too close, the train cannot stop. It can be scary.”
Francis said conductors see a lot of people cutting it very close when driving over tracks when a train is coming.
“We see more of that than we would like,” he said. “It is hard on the conductors because there is nothing they can do to stop a train in time when a driver tries to beat a train.”
Schaper has worked one train accident.
“The cross bars came down and the driver couldn’t decide whether to go backwards or forwards and the train clipped the front of the vehicle,” she said. “Luckily it wasn’t too bad. Usually they are very bad and typically involve major injuries.”
Along with the Operation Lifesaver program Tuesday, Francis said they speak to students, groups and organizations throughout the year to promote railroad safety.
He said the important thing to remember is to look, listen and live.
“Turn the radio down, listen for trains, look in both directions,” Francis said. “It never hurts to double check.”
For more information on railroad safety go to oli.org