Illinois Rail Safety Week-What Most Americans Don't Know About Vehicle vs. Train Crashes

The Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police is coordinating the fourth statewide Illinois Rail Safety Week, which concludes September 30, in partnership with the Union Pacific and CN Railroads, along with support from state, county and local law enforcement agencies, railroads, schools and various private sector agencies. Operation Lifesaver has also declared this same week as National Rail Safety Week.

The Effingham County Sheriff's Office wants to promote safety for both motorists and pedestrians around railroad tracks.

Most Americans are unaware of the dangers associated with railroad crossings and trains.

Here are some numbers to make you better aware:

306--number in millions of vehicles that cross railroad tracks every day

1,104--number of people killed or injured in 2016 at highway rail grade crossings

980--number of people killed or injured in 2016 trespassing on railroad property

18--number of football fields is takes a freight train, traveling at 55MPH, to stop

65--percentage of vehicle/train collisions that occur at public highway-rail crossings with active warning devices such as lights, gates and bells

212,000--approximate number of at grade highway rail crossings in the United States. 130,360 are public highway-rail crossings while another 81,640 crossings are on private property

40--times you are more likely to die in a crash with a train than you are to die in a crash with another vehicle

3--average time, in hours, between each incident where a vehicle or pedestrian is struck by a train

50--approximate percentage of people who are killed or injured while trespassing on railroad tracks who have drugs or alcohol in their system

95--percent of rail related deaths that involve a driver trying to beat a train, or people trespassing on railroad tracks

For more information about Illinois Rail Safety Week, visit www.illinoisrailsafetyweek.org or contact the Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police.