The Association of American Railroads, the American Public Transportation Association, and the Rail Passengers Association recently partnered to educate the public on railroad track safety.
The partners hope to counteract some political action groups whose messages are harmful. For example, Citizens Against Rail Expansion in Florida (CARE-FL) has said it is normal and fine for children to use railroads as a walking path. The associations’ group countered this, saying how unsafe that is, that tracks should never be used as a path and that tracks should only be crossed at designated public crossings, which are marked by a gate, crossbucks, flashing lights, or a combination of these safety signals.
Both the partners and CARE-FL’s messages come after a fourth person was killed by a Brightline train since 2016. Two of the deceased ignored the warning lights and went around the gate, thinking they could beat the 70-mile-per-hour train.
“These tragic accidents are opportunities to teach pedestrians how to avoid dangerous situations, and we are committed to helping spread that message,” Jim Mathews, Rail Passengers Association president and CEO, said. “What CARE-FL has done in endorsing railroad rights-of-way as a way to get to and from school is equivalent to telling kids it’s ok to play in traffic.”