Koon's watch

For most of us, buckling up when driving and using sidewalks instead of walking down the center of a road are automatic safety habits.

But did you know there is another real – and potentially life-threatening – hazard to drivers and pedestrians?

I’m talking about the danger we don’t often consider: driving or walking near train tracks.

Think about this: 95 percent of rail-related incidents in the U.S. involve vehicle-train collisions at railroad crossings or people on the tracks being struck by trains.

Government statistics show a vehicle or person is hit by a train almost every day in this country.

During the last 10 years, approximately 20,000 Americans have been killed or seriously injured on train tracks.

These incidents are devastating to families, communities and train crew members – and virtually all of them are preventable.

To raise awareness about the need for caution near tracks and trains, rail safety nonprofit organizations Operation Lifesaver, Inc. (OLI) and Operation Lifesaver Canada are joining forces to launch a new North American campaign this Rail Safety Week called #STOPTrack-Tragedies.

You can remind your loved ones to follow Operation Lifesaver’s top rail safety tips:

1. Look and listen for trains as you approach any railroad crossing — obey all signs, warning lights and gates.

2. Trains are quieter and faster than you think — never try to beat a train.

3. Always expect a train on any track; avoid distractions when you approach a crossing.

4. Rail property is private. Walking on the tracks is illegal and dangerous.

Remember, because of their size and weight, it can take a mile or more to stop a train.

Making the right decisions near train tracks can mean the difference between life and death.

This Rail Safety Week, let’s join together to #STOP-TrackTragedies – and make preventable railroad crossing and trespassing incidents a thing of the past.