You see it in movies.

A car get stuck on railroad tracks as a train comes barreling down at full speed. Y

But it doesn’t just happen in the movies.

In 2019 alone, 126 people were killed in vehicles at railroad crossings, according to the Federal Railroad Administration.

94 of those deaths happened after drivers went around the crossing gate arm.

From 2015-2019, there were 1,589 drivers who drove around a lowered gate and were struck by a train.

That’s 15% of all collisions.

These crashes were caused by risky driving behaviors and poor decision-making.

The incidents and deaths could have been prevented.

By law, trains always have the right of way because of their sheer size. A train cannot swerve, stop quickly, or change direction to avert a collision.

Avoiding a collision with a train is always the responsibility of the driver.

There are 130,200 public railroad crossings in the United States.

Over half include warning devices such as gates, bells, or flashing lights to alert drivers of an approaching train.

But 45% are “passive” crossings, meaning only signs and markings are present.

People are busy and impatient, and waiting for a train seems like an inconvenience.

But showing caution at these railroad crossings and stopping when necessary just may save your life.

No delay is worth losing your life.

If a train is coming, there’s only 1 safe option — stop.

We have several active railroad crossings in Lexington County.

When approaching a railroad crossing, slow down, look, and listen for a train on the tracks.

Remember: You can stop. Trains can’t.