ST. PAUL – As part of Gov. Mark Dayton’s proclamation of Rail Safety Week Sept. 23-29, the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT), Operation Lifesaver and other partner stakeholders are reminding the public that safety around trains can save lives.

“We urge drivers and anyone else traveling close to railroad tracks to use common sense and be alert when a train is approaching,” said Sheryl Cummings, Operation Lifesaver executive director. “The goal of Rail Safety Week and all our efforts is to reduce pedestrian and driver injuries and fatalities around railroad tracks through increased public awareness.”

Operation Lifesaver is a nonprofit rail safety education organization that works to educate community groups about rail safety and end collisions, deaths and injuries at highway-rail grade crossings and on railroad property.

MnDOT and Minnesota Operation Lifesaver offer these tips for drivers and pedestrians when crossing a track:

• Expect a train at any time. You can’t be sure when a train may appear at a crossing, even if it’s one you drive or walk across every day. Freight trains don’t travel on a regular schedule and the schedules for passenger trains can change. Always be alert because trains can run any time of day or night, on any track, in any direction.

• Don’t be fooled, the train is closer and faster than you think. In the same way that airplanes can seem to move slowly, a train may seem farther away than it really is. It’s easy to misjudge a train’s speed and its distance, especially at night. Don’t take chances. If you see a train, just wait.

• Trains can’t stop quickly—be prepared to yield. After fully applying the brakes, a loaded freight train traveling 55 mph takes a mile or more to stop. A light rail train takes 600 feet to stop, and an eight-car passenger train traveling 80 mph needs about a mile to stop. Even if the engineer can see you, it’s too late to stop the train in time to prevent a collision.

• Stop and wait when gates are down or lights are flashing. If the gates are down, the road is closed and you must stop and wait. That’s the law. Continue across after the gates go up and the red lights stop flashing,

• Don’t trespass on foot. Tracks and the property alongside them are private property. Stay off railroad cars and tracks. It’s illegal and, too often, it’s deadly.

• Don’t get trapped on the tracks. Never drive onto a railroad crossing until you’re sure you can clear the tracks on the other side without stopping. If your car stalls or is trapped on the tracks, get everyone out right away, even if you don’t see a train coming. Move quickly away from the tracks. If a train is coming, move in its direction as you move away from the tracks. If you run the same direction the train is going, you could be injured by flying debris when the train hits your car.

For more information, visit http://www.dot.state.mn.us/ofrw/railroad/safety.html or https://oli.org/.