TEXARKANA POLICE DEPARTMENT
TEXARKANA, ARKANSAS
PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
6/27/07
Officer Chris Rankin
Public Information Officer
903-798-3187 (office) 903-260-0294 (pager)
903-824-4199 (cell) 903-798-3023 (fax)
Texarkana Arkansas Police are assisting Union Pacific Railroad Police in an effort to educate drivers as to the dangers involved with disregarding Railroad Crossing signals. The effort entitled Operation CARE involves targeted enforcement of specific rail crossings.
During todays enforcement, officers trailed behind a set of engines as they ran north and south along the Broad Street rail lines. Several vehicles did in fact disregard the signal arms and drive through, despite the fact that the train was headed toward them. In each instance the driver was stopped and cited by police.
It is very important to understand how difficult it is to judge the distance and speed of an approaching train. Many times drivers will underestimate the speed of an approaching train only to be struck as they attempt to cross through the safety arms. In addition to this, railroad officials have advised that in general, freight trains weigh between 8,000 and 12,000 tons. This creates a stopping distance of between 1 to 1.5 miles, even at slow speeds. In other words it is impossible for a conductor to avoid a vehicle or pedestrian who is standing on the tracks.
Drivers must also be aware of trains that are going in opposite directions on multiple tracks. In the Texarkana area there are many intersections which are crossed by multiple tracks. The potential also exists for a driver to attempt to cross after a train has passed only to be struck by a second train going in the opposite direction.
With so many safety concerns it is important for drivers to use extreme caution when crossing railroad tracks and to always obey traffic laws at railroad crossings.
Thank you and you can visit the Texarkana Arkansas Police Department online at http://www.txkusa.org/arkpolice.