Look, Listen and Live

The majority of collisions between trains and motor vehicles involve trains traveling at 35 mph or less. In approximately 25 percent of all highway-rail grade crossing crashes, the motor vehicle strikes the train, which is already passing through the crossing. Nearly two-thirds of all crossing crashes occur during daylight hours, through crossings equipped with automatic warning devices. Driver inattention is clearly the major cause.

The average train weighs about 12 million pounds. The ratio of that train to an average motor vehicle is about 4,000 to 1 – the same ratio of that motor vehicle to an aluminum can. When the average vehicle runs over it, the can will be crushed. A similar result can be expected when a motor vehicle puts itself in the path of a train.

An average 100-car train traveling at 50 mph can take one mile to stop. All motorists should: Be ready to stop when approaching a grade crossing. A train can come at any time, in either direction. At multiple track crossings, a second train may be approaching from the opposite direction.

The Indiana State Police and Indiana Operation Lifesaver urge motorists to use extreme caution as they approach highway-rail grade crossings, especially in inclement weather.  Inclement weather and driving too fast for existing road conditions are a deadly mix at Indiana’s highway-rail grade crossings.

Indiana Operation Lifesaver suggests these safety tips:

• At the advance warning signs indicating that there are train tracks ahead, slow down and expect a train at the crossing.
• Never go around the crossing gate or try to beat the train at an unguarded crossing.
• Lower your window and listen for a train whistle that would indicate the train is near.
• Be prepared to stop and go slow enough to do so.
• Adhere to all warning signals at the crossing.

·         If your vehicle stalls or gets “hung up” at a crossing, do not attempt to move it. Exit immediately and call 911 so any approaching train can be notified about your vehicle. Check on the signal post where the train cross bucks are located for an 800 number, call it immediately with the appropriate crossing number.

For more information, visit the Operation Lifesaver web site, www.oli.org, and remember to “Look, Listen and Live” at Indiana’s highway-rail grade crossings.

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GREGORY

Indiana State Police Offers Tips on Driveway Safety

Bloomington – The Indiana State Police at the Bloomington Post would like to offer residential safety tips concerning driveways. With summer upon us, our most valuable resource, our children, will be outside enjoying the weather, playing in the yard and in our driveways. Tragically, over 2,400 driveway accidents happen each year in the United States. The Indiana State Police would like to offer the following tips to help avoid unnecessary tragedy.

1) Set the rules with your children. As with any safety issue (firearms in the house, swimming pools, stairways, household cleaners) no matter what their age, designate steadfast rules without options. Tell your children when they see a car approaching the driveway that they all have to “meet up” in the yard. The rule at my home for my five children is when a car is moving in the driveway, “your feet are in the grass!” Teach your children to watch for the white reverse lights that illuminate when a car is in reverse.

2) Listen – Before entering into your driveway, roll down your windows and turn off your radio. A radio nplaying too loud can make for a distraction and cause the driver not to hear a child coming to welcome you home. Cell phone usage can provide that same distraction. Being able to hear someone yell or scream to you could save a child’s life.

3) Count Heads – How many children are supposed to be in your driveway? Don’t neglect the possibility that other children may be playing in the area that you are not aware of.

4) Communicate – Stop your car before you completely roll in to back the car into its parking place. Talk to the children. “Is everybody on the grass?” “How many children are outside?” Tell them what you are about to do and not to move until you do it.

Remember, very simply, kids are short and they like to play! If they are in very close to your vehicle, you won’t be able to see them. They may think it would be a fun game to “hide” from you by sneaking up and covering themselves from sight by way of the front or back of your car. Talk to them about this version of “hide and seek”. Don’t let summer fun turn into tragedy.

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Distracted and Driving: A Dangerous Combination

We live in a highly mobile society.  With the increasing technology, busy schedules, the shear number of vehicles on today’s roadways, and driver attitude, one could only conclude that distracted driving is a major factor in most crashes that occur today.  Talking on a cell phone, dealing with fussy babies, arguing children, and even casual conversation with other vehicle occupants, driver distractions are ever increasing.  Couple that with our “need” to be somewhere five minutes ago and the day-to-day stresses, distracted driving is quickly becoming one of the leading causes of traffic fatalities.

Driver inattention is the leading factor in most crashes and near-crashes, according to a landmark research report released in April of 2006 by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute (VTTI).  Nearly 80 percent of crashes and 65 percent of near-crashes involved some form of driver inattention within three seconds before the event.  Primary causes of driver inattention are distracting activities such as cell phone use and drowsiness.

NHTSA says distractions can be visual, cognitive, or manual.  Taking one’s eyes off the road (visual), one’s mind off the road (cognitive), or taking one’s hands off the wheel (manual) can and often do lead to crashes.  There are two basic components of the distraction safety problem: The attention demands of the distracting task and the frequency with which drivers choose to multitask.  Task demands relate to the amount of resources (visual, cognitive, manual) required to perform the task.  The other issue is exposure, which is how often drivers engage in the task.  Putting those two concepts together, even an easy task can be a bigger safety problem if the person does the task 50% of their driving time. 

To decrease your chances of causing a distracted driving crash:

• Avoid cell phone use while driving.  Even “hands free” phones can be a distraction.
• Avoid eating or drinking while driving.
• Avoid taking your eyes off the roadway to check on children or other passengers.  Pull over if necessary.
• Avoid trying to read maps or materials while driving.
• Avoid putting on make up or shaving while driving.
• Get plenty of rest before driving; especially on long trips.

Your best defense against injury or fatality in any type of crash is buckling up.  Don’t become a statistic.  Wear your safety belts and make sure all occupants of your vehicle are buckled up.

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EMERY