Stay Alive When You Drive - Truck Safety Video Alerts Drivers to Railroad Crossing Tips

05/13/2009

WASHINGTON, DC, May 13, 2009 – Operation Lifesaver, the national non-profit rail safety education group, is releasing its latest training video, Stay Alive When You Drive, to provide professional truck drivers with the information they need to drive safely at highway-rail crossings.

Preliminary 2008 statistics from the Federal Railroad Administration reveal that, although there are more collisions between big rigs and trains at public crossings (261 last year) than at private crossings (109), tractor-trailers represent about 33 percent of all vehicle-train collisions at private crossings (like industrial sites and farm crossings) and just 13 percent of crashes at public railroad crossings.

“We recognize the enormous responsibilities faced by our professional trucking partners,” said Helen Sramek, President, Operation Lifesaver. “It’s a tough job that we’d like to make a little easier and safer.  Operation Lifesaver will work with its state program safety leaders across the country along with professional driver training organizations to see that the training video reaches the greatest number of drivers.”

The fast-paced video provides critical tips to help commercial drivers avoid these collisions.  Scenes in the video include several serious crashes that illustrate the high stakes drivers face at crossings. 
In one scenario, on a dark, rain-swept night, a driver is shown the steps that can be taken to stay safe.  Another scenario shows the vast number of distractions - pagers, GPS systems, laptops, and, of course, cell phones, which divert drivers’ attention from the road.

The video was produced for Operation Lifesaver, Inc. by Big Picture, Springfield, VA.  Safety managers from the professional trucking community and other officials served as advisors on the video. Operation Lifesaver acknowledges the assistance of: Jim Kochendorfer, Werner Trucking; John Spiros, Roehl Trucking; and Bennie Howe, a CDL-certified independent driver and a Federal Railroad Administration Safety Manager.  Terry Ludban, CSX Safety Manager, and John Simpson, Union Pacific Safety Manager, also provided logistics and safety support. 

Six Safety Tips for Truck Drivers
1.    At 55 mph, it can take a mile or more to stop a train.
2.    Stop no closer than 15 feet (one car length) from the crossing. If you are in traffic, don’t start if you can’t safely clear the crossing.
3.    Note the overhang – both for your truck and a train – of 3 feet or more.
4.    Make sure that trailer jacks are in the up position - non-retracted trailer jacks can cause trailers to become stuck on crossings.
5.    Cell phones are the top distraction for all drivers.
6.    If you get stuck at the crossing, get out, call the 800 number posted at the crossing, or call local police to alert trains of your position.