WOOT WOOT KEENESBURG! 

It is Rail Safety Week and since we have a VERY large train presence here in town, safety around trains, train crossings, and rails is of the upmost importance. 

Did You Know..... 

      - In the U.S, a person or a vehicle is hit by a train every 3 hours?

      - More than 2,100 people are injured or killed annually in crossing and trespassing incidents in North America?

      - More than 60% of collisions occur at crossings with lights and/or guards?

      -  In 2021, there were more than 1,600 collisions between vehicles and freight and commuter trains. 133 people died and 644 people were injured.

The average speed of a train coming through Keenesburg is between 49 and 59 mph, depending on the load they carry. Long coal trains are usually slower and can carry upwards of 100 cars. At 55 mph, if a train needs to stop suddenly in an emergency it takes about 1 mile to come to a complete stop!

Crossing safety is paramount! Please watch the videos attached to this to hear the stories of Samantha and Maurice, whose lives were affected by train tragedies. 

Here are some tips on Crossing Safety!

1: When approaching train tracks, whether the guard is down or not, you must ALWAYS check both directions before crossing. You cannot always hear a train coming and you cannot rely on the gates and lights to be working properly.

2: Parents, teach your kids rail safety and to always check before crossing and DO NOT play on the tracks. It only takes a second for a train to come out of no where. 

3: DO NOT stop on or near the tracks! Give the trains lots of room on either side of the crossings gates. A derailment can happen at any time for any reason and hit cars and people waiting to cross. 

4: Do not try to beat the train! Stop and wait!

5: It is illegal to maneuver through the gates when they are down or to cross them while they are lowering. If the guards are down and stuck and there is no train coming, contact law enforcement or the train company (there are usually phone numbers and train crossing numbers at the intersections).

6: Never assume that there is only one train coming from a single direction.

7:  If your car stalls on a track, quickly get everyone out — even if you don’t see a train coming. Run away from the tracks and your car to avoid being hit by flying debris. Call the number on the blue emergency notification system sign. If the sign is not visible to you, call 911.

Incidents and crashes with Trains are preventable! Stay Alert, Stay Alive!