Are Railroad Crossings Safe

1
Are Railroad CrossingsSafe?

• Christopher Paquin
• EDU 290
• April 26, 2004

2
Family Incident

• My Cousin, B.J,. Killed June 30, 2002
• B.J. was Deaf
• Crossing had 4 tracks to cross
• No lights or gate at this crossing
• This shouldnt happen to anyone!!!

3
An Accident in Michigan!!!

• Accident in Bloomfield Township
• Bus driver crashes into railroad gate
• 13 reported incidents of gate malfunction since
  2001

4
Central Michigan

• No gate or signal for students who live in Old
  and New Towers.
• September 10, 2001 a car with three students
  crashed into train on West Campus Drive

• CM-Life, Dec. 3, 2003 states that a railroad
  signal sign installed in the intersection of West
  Campus Drive and Denison Drive in an effort to
  improve campus safety.

5
Accidents and Fatalities Michigan

• 1995 25 Railroad Accidents with 0 deaths
• 116 Highway rail grade crossing with 5 deaths
• In 1999 15 were killed and 48 were injured

6
Some Improvements in Macomb County as of 2001

• 3 Million dollar improvement fee
• 24 new signals and upgrades
• Help to promote safety issues

7
Good News

• Railroad accidents down in 2000
• Less deaths
• More injuries
• Railroad accident rate per million train miles
  dropped by more than two-thirds, and the number
  of rail-related fatalities and injuries fell by
  three-fourths during this period.

8
Safety Warnings when proceeding a Railroad
Crossing

• Be cautious at every Railroad Crossing
• Look both ways when crossing
• Listen for any Horns
• Look very careful and dont try to rush over
  tracks

9
Ending Deaths

• Even though deaths are decreasing by railroad
  crossings by vehicles or people walking, etc,
  there is a lot to accomplish all over America
  that will end future deaths. I might be able to
  cross a railroad that doesnt have any signs for
  incoming train right now but later I might become
  deaf or even blind and not know what is coming
  towards me.

10
Resources

• http//www.monroepublishing.com/frontpage/getfront
  page2.asp
• http//www.detnews.com/2004/oakland/0401/20/c04-40
  649.htm
• http//www.cm-life.com/vnews/display.v/ART/2003/12
  /03/3fcd804d43812
• http//www.cm-life.com/vnews/display.v/ART/2001/09
  /10/3b9c2ed2d3f0d?in_archive1
• http//www.bts.gov/publications/state_freight_tran
  sportation_profile/michigan/rail_accidents_and_fat
  alities.pdf
• http//www.detnews.com/2001/macomb/0107/01/b05-242
  259.htm
• http//www.detnews.com/2001/metro/0103/09/d08d-197
  340.htm