RAIL CROSSING, TRESPASSING INCIDENTS DOWN IN 2009

Collisions at railroad crossings and rail trespass incidents and resulting injuries and fatalities are down in the United States during the first eight months of 2009. In most cases the decreases are well into double digits, according to preliminary figures from the Federal Railroad Administration.

From January through August of this year, there were 1,247 crossing crashes in the US, down 22 percent from the same period a year ago when there were 1,598 such incidents.

Of those crashes, 156 people died, down 18.5 percent from the 191 killed during the first two-thirds of 2008. There were also 462 injuries compared to 628 hurt in 2008, or a decrease of 26.4 percent.

Fatalities as a result of trespassing on railroad property were down 8.7 percent in 2009 compared to the first eight months last year. There have been 292 deaths in 2009 thus far compared to 320 in 2008 from January through August. Meanwhile, injuries resulting from being hit by a train were down 22.6 percent. There were 229 hurt while trespassing through August this year, down from 296 injuries during the same period a year ago.

In Maine, to the best of our knowledge, there has been one crossing collision resulting in no injury in 2009. There has also been one individual struck by a train resulting in serious injury.

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Two new DVDs targeting specific audiences have been released by

Operation Lifesaver, Inc. and are now available at no charge through

Maine Operation Lifesaver.

“Stay Alive When You Drive” has just begun distribution to provide professional truck drivers with the information they need to drive safely at railroad crossings.  The fast-paced video provides critical tips to help commercial drivers avoid collisions.  Scenes in the video include several serious crashes that illustrate the high stakes drivers face at crossings.  In one scenario, on a dark, rain-swept night, a driver is shown the steps that can be taken to stay safe.  Another scenario shows the vast number of distractions - pagers, GPS systems, laptops, and, of course, cell phones, which divert drivers’ attention from the road.  Also in the ten-minute video, drivers are directed to get out of their rigs immediately if stalled at a crossing or if a low-boy trailer being pulled becomes wedged on the tracks while crossing.  Maine Operation Lifesaver volunteers are happy to show the video and talk further about railroad crossings at no charge during an upcoming company safety day or you can request a copy to show drivers on your own.

“Look to Live” is the new driver education video, and since the vast majority of student drivers are teens, the DVD fits their lifestyle with music and featuring young adults through its ten-minute duration. Students are reminded that a train can approach from either direction at anytime, that because of its size an approaching train appears to be moving slower than it actually is, and how to escape safely from a vehicle if it stalls at a crossing. The video also suggests the driver turn down the radio or CD player as the vehicle nears a crossing and asks that passengers quiet down for a few moments until safely across the tracks.  Again, a Maine Operation Lifesaver certified presenter will visit a driver education class for a free presentation or the instructor may play the DVD during any part of classroom learning.

To request a copy, e-mail maineol@roadrunner.com,  phone 207-827-7367,

or mail a note to Maine Operation Lifesaver, 23 Park Street, Old Town, Maine 04468.

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