Rail Safety Campaign Launches in California

Over the past decade, the number of railroad riders in America has increased markedly, according to the Federal Transit Authority Rail Safety Statistics Report. Indeed, toward the end of the last decade, the FTA counted more than 18.5 billion passenger miles. Rail safety is one of the safest ways to travel in the United States, but the railroad industry still faces significant safety concerns. Indeed, personal injury claims arise frequently when victims are injured in the vicinity of railroad tracks.

In order to make sure that rail travel remains safe and free of injuries in California, transportation officials recently announced that they’d be kicking off a year-long rail safety campaign. It’s called “Be Track Smart,” and it’s intended to “cut down on death or injury on the tracks in California,” according to a report in the Sacramento Bee.

Rail safety is a serious concern across the United States. Every year, rail transit systems experience hundreds of injuries. If you or a loved one have been injured on a railway or by an accident on railroad tracks, you may be eligible for compensation. Don’t hesitate to contact the experienced injury attorneys at the Walton Law Firm to discuss your case.

Details of the “Be Track Smart” Campaign

This campaign is a joint effort, involving Caltrans, Amtrak, and the Capitol Corridor Joint Powers. Authority. Its ultimate goal is to reduce injury and fatalities that occur on and around railroad tracks. The campaign launch was timed for September, as this month is Rail Safety Month.

What exactly will the “Be Track Smart” Campaign do to improve rail safety in California? In short, its primary goal is to “educate Californians to the potential dangers and get them to change how they think and behave around train tracks,” according to Caltrans Director Malcolm Dougherty. That education will emphasize important safety tips for avoiding railway injury.

Safety Tips to Avoid Railway Injuries

The campaign will address safety concerns for those who work on or travel by railways. Generally speaking, some rail track safety tips include:

· Only cross the tracks at designated road or pedestrian crossings. These crossways are there for a reason—it’s not safe to cross railroad tracks at any other point. If you violated warning signs and signals, you could face a misdemeanor charge that could lead to significant fines, a moving violation, and points on your driving record. · Know that it’s illegal to run, walk, or bike down train tracks. For this violation, you can also face high fines, and in some cases even jail time. Worse yet, running, walking, or cycling down train tracks can cause severe injury and even death. · Always look both ways when you’re crossing railroad tracks. · Know that you’re not fast enough to beat a train. They’re moving faster than it seems, and it can take up to a mile for trains to stop after the conductor has applied the brakes. · Also know that trains can move forward or backward at any time. You’re not safe just because you’re crossing behind a train. This is especially important since trains nowadays are pretty quiet—you might not hear a train that’s starting to move.

Injury Attorneys Can Help If you or a loved one have been injured while riding on rail transit or while in the vicinity of railroad tracks, you may be eligible to file a personal injury lawsuit. You’ll need an experienced injury attorney on your side throughout this process, and the lawyers at the Walton Law Firm are here to help. Contact us today to learn more.

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