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Railroad officials concerned with number of car-train crashes

Haley Gustafson | Daily Press A railroad crossbuck sign is shown on Sheridan Road in Escanaba Wednesday afternoon. Canadian National Police Service Special Agent Gene Meyer said knowing the laws when encountering a railroad crossing is important to avoiding a possible accident between car and train.

ESCANABA — Seven car-train accidents have occurred in recent months, which is up from previous years, according to Gene Meyer, a special agent for Canadian National Railroad (CN) Police Service. Most accidents involving a train and any type of vehicle end in fatality, said Meyer, noting to avoid a potential run-in with a train, there are some precautions motorists can take.

When approaching a railroad crossing that has its lights flashing, motorists should stop or yield and look both ways, said Meyer. He added the crossbuck sign — a sign made with two slats forming an “X” — located at every railroad crossing is considered a yield sign.

“They have to respect the stop signs,” he said.

Meyer said the total number of train-car accidents this year is “unbelievable” as only four –occurred last year. He added the total may have risen due to some motorists traveling too fast for conditions and not following the laws regarding respecting train crossings.

“The train has the right-of-way no matter what,” he said, noting unless there are exemption signs stating the track is no longer in use, vehicles must yield at crossings.

According to Michigan’s Enforcement Guide for Law Enforcement’s Response to Railroad Incidents handbook, “When a person driving a vehicle approaches a railroad grade crossing under any of the following circumstances, the driver shall stop the vehicle not more than 50 feet but not less than 15 feet from the nearest rail of the railroad, and shall not proceed until the driver can do so safely … A person shall not drive a vehicle through, around, or under a crossing gate or barrier at a railroad crossing while the gate or barrier is closed or is being opened or closed or against the direction of a police officer.” A person who violates can be responsible for a civil infraction, said Meyer.

Another issue regarding train safety is trespassing with off-road vehicles such as snowmobiles, ATVs and UTVs, which are popular in the Upper Peninsula, said Meyer. He explained the property underneath any line of railroad track is considered private property, so if someone is riding their off-road vehicle on the tracks, they are technically trespassing. The best way to go over a track is at the designated crossing, noted Meyer.

“We’ve got a lot of four-wheeler, ATV and UTV problems up here,” he said, noting most people underestimate the speed of train when traveling on the tracks and this can cause major issues. According to Meyer, it takes the average train about a mile to stop, or equivalent to the length of 18 football fields.

In the case of a vehicle stalling or losing all function when crossing a railroad grade, Meyer said motorists should follow these steps in order to remain safe.

After the vehicle has stopped working, the driver and any other passengers should get out of the car immediately, said Meyer. Once everyone is a safe distance away from the tracks, they should locate the DOT crossing identification number and the emergency phone number listed on the sign, which begins with 1-800. The operator will ask for the DOT crossing identification number, which is labeled below the phone number, and is exclusive to that crossing said Meyer. Once the dispatch has the information, they can stop all train traffic that may be headed in that direction.

Meyer said his goal in getting the word out about train safety is reducing the amount of crashes that occur, educating drivers, and keeping enforcement of railroad safety at full force.

Meyer also travels to various school districts teaching students about train safety with through Operation Lifesaver, which is a non-profit international public education program. Any school interested in having Meyer do a presentation, should contact Meyer at (920) 437-1573 or via email at gene.meyer@cn.ca.

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