Promoting railroad crossing safety

Nov 06, 2009 (Laurel Leader-Call - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- NSC | Quote | Chart | News | PowerRating -- Representatives from Norfolk Southern Corp., which has offices in Hattiesburg, were in Laurel this week to spread the safety message near the area's railroad.

The group distributed a rail safety tips brochure from Mississippi Operation Lifesaver Inc., which had previously partnered with Norfolk Southern for a similar event in Hattiesburg last week.

Mississippi Operation Lifesaver Inc., a division of the Mississippi Department of Transportation, is a nonprofit, nationwide public information and education program dedicated to reducing crashes, injuries and fatalities at intersections where roadways meet railways and along railroad rights-of-way.

Kim Sloan, president of the group, said more than 1,250 brochures were distributed in Laurel Wednesday.

"We do anything we can feasibly do (to promote safety)," she said. "We have a 30-second radio spot that has run in central Mississippi and offer collision and derailment classes for local law enforcement, fire departments, MEMA and dispatchers."

Sloan said Mississippi Operation Lifesaver has hosted six safety blitz events this year similar to the ones in Hattiesburg and Laurel.

"We do presentations statewide on a weekly basis," she said. "A lot of our presentations are word of mouth. A teacher at one school might take my card and give it to someone affiliated with her church who is hosting a women's safety day. Any way we can get into the community and teach people about railroad safety, that's what we're trying to do."

Sloan said the organization has 43 volunteers statewide and works with Class 1 railroads such as Norfolk Southern and MDOT, which provides funding to run the safety program.

"This is a nationwide effort in every state and in five countries," she said. "We don't target an area after an incident happens, but we try to go where a majority of trespasser or collision incidents have occurred in that general area."

Sloan said the message Mississippi Operation Lifesaver teaches begins at a very young age.

"Even at the elementary school level, we teach them to look both ways before you cross the track and listen with your ears for the train horn," she said. "If you look and listen, you'll live. If they receive that message every year, by the time they reach drivers' education, it's second knowledge for them to yield at the crossings."

According to the agency, a vehicle and train collide in the United States about every two hours with most collisions occurring within 25 miles of the motorist's home. A motorist is 20 times more likely to die in a crash with a train than in a collision with another vehicle.

Sloan offered a few rail safety tips including:

--Never try to beat a train. If it's a tie at a crossing, you lose.

--Never go around lowered gates or flashing lights. It is illegal and they are there for your safety. Lowered gates mean a train is just a few seconds away.

--Always expect a train. Any time can be train time.

--Look for a second train coming from either direction. If there are two or more tracks, one train could be blocking your view. Be sure all tracks are clear before you proceed.

--Never stop on the tracks. If your vehicle stalls on the tracks, get out and away from your vehicle immediately Dial 9-1-1 to report the emergency.

For more information, call 601-359-7539 or visit www.msoperationlifesaver.org.

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