Tip of the Week:
You Can't Beat The Train!

Don't even try. Trains are unable to stop quickly. A 150-car freight train needs two-thirds of a mile to stop when traveling 30 mph, and 1.5 miles to stop when traveling at 50 mph.

The ongoing tragedy is that these kinds of accidents are the most avoidable. In 1998, 95.6 percent of all rail-related deaths in the United States involved vehicle-train collisions and trespasser-pedestrian incidents on railroad rights-of-way. American motorists are 40 times more likely to die in a crash involving a train than in a collision involving another motor vehicle. But it doesn't have to be that way.

Remember these safety tips:

• Cross tracks only at designated roadway or pedestrian crossings.
• Observe all warning signs and signals. Nearly 50 percent of crashes at public grade crossings occur where there are active warning devices such as gates, lights and bells.
• Never try to outrace a train across its tracks. It's better to lose a few minutes than lose a life.
• Be aware that trains do not follow set schedules.
• Do not walk, run, cycle or operate all-terrain vehicles on railroad tracks and property, or through tunnels.
• Do not hunt, fish or bungee jump from railroad trestles. There is only enough clearance on tracks for a train to pass. They are not meant to be sidewalks or pedestrian bridges.
• Do not attempt to hop aboard railroad equipment. A slip can cost you a limb.

Whether you're a risk-taker or not, remember: You can't beat the train.