The Dangers of Railroad Crossings

According to Operation Lifesaver (OLI), there were over 2000 collisions at train crossings in 2021. An accident with a train can be terrifying and deadly. Trains are massive and travel at such high speeds that it is extremely difficult for them to stop. A passenger car or truck stopped on train tracks does not have much protection against the magnitude of a train.

OLI also reports there were 236 crossing fatalities and 666 crossing injuries in 2021 across the country. The Maryland car accident attorneys at Plaxen Adler Muncy, PA, discuss railroad crossing accidents in today’s blog.

Safety tips for crossing railroad tracks in Maryland

The United States Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) warns motorists to always expect a train when near a crossing. Fatalities around railroad tracks have considerably decreased since the 1970s but lately there has been an increase in train accidents and fatalities.

Drivers are encouraged to stop first because trains cannot, but drivers trying to beat trains and go around lowered gates has increased in recent years. The NHTSA wants drivers to be aware and remember that trains need about a mile or more to come to a complete stop, even in an emergency.

The NHTSA lists the following seven steps for navigating train crossings:

1. Stop, look both ways, and listen. Remember that trains always have the right of way.
2. Make sure you have room to get across. Once you enter the crossing, keep moving.
3. Stop 15 feet away from flashing red lights, lowered gates, a signaling flagman or a stop sign.
4. Never try to drive around a lowering gate. Never ignore signals, and always use caution.
5. Before you begin to cross, wait for gates to fully rise and for all lights to stop flashing.
6. Never assume that there is only one train coming from a single direction.
7. If your car stalls on a rail track, quickly get everyone out -- even if you don’t see a train coming. Then, run away from the tracks and your car. Avoid running in the same direction that the train is coming, because you could be hit by flying debris if a train hits your car. When it’s safe to do so, call the number on the blue Emergency Notification System sign. If the sign is not visible to you, call 911.

Recent vehicle/train collisions

On August 3rd, 2022, 140 passengers on an Amtrak train had a harrowing experience that they will not likely forget. Their passenger train crashed into a trailer truck in Frederick County, Maryland during rush hour. A traffic jam trapped the trailer truck on the train tracks, so it was unable to move out of the way, and the train slammed into the rear passenger side of the trailer. This impact pushed the trailer into a passenger truck which was then thrust into a building.

The driver of the passenger truck was treated at the hospital for non-life-threatening injuries, but the trailer truck driver and train passengers escaped uninjured. The train continued moving to its destination within an hour, but the roadway was closed for over six hours while crews from 84 Lumber removed lumber on the truck and assisted the tow company with removing the tractor trailer from the roadway.

In June 2022, a similar collision in Missouri tragically resulted in the loss of life. Four people died and 100 were injured when an Amtrak train collided with a dump truck. The crash caused the train to derail. Investigations continue into this accident, which involved a “passive” railroad crossing, meaning there was nothing concrete preventing vehicles from crossing the tracks.

In a Washington Post article, the National Transportation Safety Board Chair, Jennifer Homendy said, “There were no arms, there were not warning lights, and there were no bells.” She added that “such setups are common across the country, and that about 130,000 ‘passive’ crossings exist in the U.S.”

CNN reported on another recent incident in June of 2022. Three people in a passenger vehicle died and two others suffered major injuries when struck by an Amtrak train traveling through another passive intersection without crossing gates in Brentwood, California. None of the passengers or crew onboard the Amtrak train were injured.

Operation Lifesaver, Rail Safety Education states that highway rail incidents at crossings resulted in 2147 collisions, 236 fatalities and 666 injuries in 2021. Current Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) data shows that highway-rail grade crossing collisions and pedestrian trespass on tracks together account for over 95% of all railroad fatalities.

Always stop, look, and listen at railroad crossings, especially “passive” crossings. A train weighing more than 150,000 pounds, traveling at speeds up to 150 mph will crush anything in its path.

If you or a loved one have been injured or experienced pain and suffering due to a collision with a train or the result of a train collision or derailment, Plaxen Adler Muncy, PA can help. You deserve a team who will defend your interests against carriers who will do what they can to avoid compensating you for damages. For more than 35 years, we have been the premier personal injury law firm serving clients throughout the state. Please call us at 410-730-7737, or fill out our contact form to schedule a free consultation at one of our offices throughout Maryland.