What to do if your vehicle stalls on tracks?

1. Approach with care. Warn others that you are slowing down. Turn on 4-way flashers. Use pull-out lane if available.
2. Prepare to stop.Turn off fans and radio and roll down windows. Locate your cell phone for use in emergency. Stop at least 15 feet, but not more than 50 feet, from nearest rail.
3. Look both ways and listen carefully. Bend forward to see around mirrors and A-pillars.
4. If it won’t fit, don’t commit. Do not enter a crossing unless you can drive completely through without stopping! And, remember, trains are wider than the track. Before you pull onto the track, make sure there is enough room on the other side for the back of your vehicle (and any overhanging cargo) to be at least 6 feet beyond the furthest rail.
5. Look again. Before you move, look again in both directions.
6. Cross tracks with care. Signal, watch for a safe gap, pull back onto the road if you used a pull-out lane. Use highest gear that will let you cross without shifting.
7. Keep going once you start, even if lights start to flash or gates come down.

What to Do If Your Vehicle Stalls or Hangs up On the Tracks

1. GET OUT IMMEDIATELY. Evacuate your vehicle. (Trains traveling at 60 mph may take a mile or more to stop.)
2. Move away. Walk toward the oncoming train, and away from the tracks at a 45-degree  angle. (If your vehicle is hit, debris will spread out from the tracks in the same direction the train is moving.)
3. Locate the emergency phone number. When you are safely away from the tracks, find the railroad’s emergency phone number and the DOT crossing identification number posted near the crossing. (See sample locations below.)
4. Call for help! Call the railroad’s emergency phone number, the local police, or 911. Tell them a vehicle is on the tracks. Provide the location, crossing number (if posted), and the name of the road or highway.

Railroads’ Emergency Phone Numbers

Amtrak: 1-800-331-0008

BNSF Railway: 1-800-832-5452

CSX: 1-800-232-0144

Canadian National: 1-800-465-9239

Canadian Pacific: 1-800-716-9132

Kansas City Southern: 1-800-892-6295

Norfolk Southern: 1-800-453-2530

Union Pacific: 1-888-877-7267

Call the local police or 911 if you cannot locate the railroad emergency phone number at the site.

Railroad Crossing Safety

According to the Federal Railroad Administration, there are thousands of collisions between trains and vehicles every year. These collisions can result in injuries - or even death.

This information triggers the need to review safety precautions that drivers must follow when approaching and crossing train tracks.

Safety Tips for Drivers

• Approach the tracks cautiously, and always expect a train - even on rarely used tracks. Since most trains do not travel on a regular schedule, be cautious any time of the day or night. 
• Turn on your four-way flashers to warn other drivers that you are slowing down. 
• Then, turn off any fans and music, and roll down your windows as you come to the track. Try to come to a complete stop between 15 and 50 feet away.
• Cross tracks only at designated crossings. Never drive around lowered gates. This is illegal and deadly. 
• Once you are stopped, listen for a train and look both ways down the track. Be mindful that your mirrors or A-pillars may be blocking your view so adjust your body to see around them. Listen for any signs of a train even if you cannot see one. If you do not see or hear anything, look again and proceed. Use the highest gear without having to shift to get across. 
• If you are crossing the tracks and you see a train coming, keep going. Do not panic and stop on the tracks. Remember, the train is at least three feet wider than the tracks on each side. 
• If you see a train, understand that it is closer and moving faster than you think. Always wait for it to pass before proceeding across the tracks. 

What if You Get Stuck?

If your vehicle stalls or gets stuck on the tracks, do the following:

• Get yourself and any other passengers out of the vehicle immediately.
• If a train is coming, get out immediately and move quickly toward the oncoming train and away from the tracks at a 45-degree angle. This is to protect you if the train does hit your vehicle. The debris will fly in the same direction as the train's path. 
• If you are at a crossing with multiple tracks, watch in either direction for another train approaching. 
• Once you are far enough away from the tracks, call for help and provide your location and the crossing number if it is posted.

Be aware that trains cannot stop quickly. A train traveling at 60 mph will need at least one mile to stop, so even if the train driver sees you, it's not likely that they will be able to stop in time. A train's width is also larger than the rails by at least three feet on each side. This could clip your cargo, vehicle or overhang if you attempt to cross without enough room. 

TrueNorth Keeps You Safe on the Road

At TrueNorth, our mission is to assist transportation companies and their people with protecting and maximizing assets, resources and opportunities.  Learn how TrueNorth's Transportation Division can help you achieve your goals and provide peace of mind while you're on the road.  Call us today at (800) 877-9637.