The Iowa Department of Transportation is partnering with Operation Lifesaver, Inc. to mark “See Tracks? Think Train” week which begins on Sept. 15.
DOT officials say the campaign is especially important as farmers prepare for harvest. Iowa has more than 4,000 public railroad crossings, and over half of them are passive crossings marked only by a crossbuck sign. Most collisions happen at these locations, where drivers may misjudge the speed of an oncoming train or fail to see it in time.
Iowa DOT Rail Director Amanda Martin says the goal is to remind Iowans that trains always have the right of way. She adds that during harvest, it’s critical for farmers, agribusiness drivers, and the public to make safe choices when crossing tracks.
A freight train traveling 55 miles an hour can take more than a mile to stop, and nationwide, a person or vehicle is hit by a train every three hours.
More information is available online at oli.org.
Photo courtesy of the Iowa DOT
