Sponsored by Burlington Northern, Cotton Belt, Kansas City Southern, Union Pacific, and all Short Line Railroads

Did you Know?

• A Train, traveling at 40 mph, needs one mile to get stopped
• Half the crossing accidents happen when drivers actually drive around the crossing gates
• Half the collisions happen in clear weather and during the daytime
• One fourth of the crossing accidents involve vehicles driven into the side of the train
• 65 percent of the accidents involve trains moving at less than 40 mph

Two Types of Warning Signs

Passive Signs

Signs installed by State, County, and local agencies. These include painted pavement markings, Crossbuck, and Stop Signs which are required at all public crossings.

Active Signs

Installation of flashing lights or flashing lights with gates determined by State authorities. These warning devices are expensive and are primarily used at crossings with high volumes of vehicular traffic. The cost of these type of warning devices is around $100,000. The majority of the money comes from the federal government with the remainder coming from the state or local government.

A Picture is worth a thousand words!

Nationally, "Operation Lifesaver", is a continuing program to prevent accidents at the nation's 200,000 or more public Railroad / Highway Grade Crossings. Programs are presented to businesses, government, schools, and civic organizations to help explain the danger at Railroad Crossings.

If you would like to have an Operation Lifesaver program to be presented at your school or business, Please write to:

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