TRAINING
School’ s back, so keep your community safe around the rails
THOMAS J. JEDIC
By the time this issue hits your mailbox, all schools will be back to full session and settled after the first-day onslaught. Keep a few things in mind when addressing rail assets in your community.
Grade crossings. If you have a grade crossing in your town, take the time to observe it during your shift, especially at high traffic times and if it is frequented by school buses and school transport vehicles. Remember that NJSA 39:4-128 requires any school transport vehicle to come to a full stop prior to the track( s). Not a slow roll or a driveover at speed but a full stop with flashers activated( see the MVC definition). The only exception is if the crossing is marked by signage reading“ exempt” or“ out of service.” All licensed bus drivers are aware of this law, a highlighted part of their special class endorsement.
It is also critical that all drivers make sure they do not approach a crossing unless they know they can safely clear it and not place themselves or their vehicle atop the track. Once the gates go down or a train is approaching, it may be too late to prevent a collision. Every three hours in the U. S., a person and / or vehicle is struck by a train— a sobering statistic for sure.
Trains cannot stop quickly: an average freight train travelling at 55 mph will take approximately 18 football fields to come to a full stop. Keeping your crossings clear of any obstruction, and your tracks and rail areas free of pedestrian trespassers, will assuredly help reduce that eye-opening statistic.
Safe walking plans. Keep in mind that when you are designing your“ safe route home from school” programs, you should check whether any railroad tracks are adjacent to the plan. Remember Police 101: Attractive Nuisances? Far too often, railroads are places that young adults and children use as cut-throughs to school or sports fields, friends’ houses or back home. Many young adults wear earbuds and will never hear a train approaching.
No one knows your town like you. Check to see if there’ s a wellworn footpath that leads to the tracks or trestle. Keep an eye on it and initiate contact with any trespasser before he or she takes that risk on the rails. Document your contact, and relay the information to the railroad company and its police force.
Accessing resources. Invite guest speakers from Operation Lifesaver to address your PTA, school assembly, bus company drivers and anyone else you think may benefit from an education regarding rail safety. Go to oli. org and view the vast library of materials and resources available to you in the effort to combat injuries and fatalities along the tracks.
Partnering with OLI and Federal Railroad Administration resources will help you achieve the goal of zero incidents. In the meantime, remember to always be safe when working along the rails. d
Special Agent Thomas Jedic is a member of Norfolk Southern Railroad Police Special Operations Response Team( SORT) and an executive board member of NJ Operation Lifesaver.
72 NEW JERSEY COPS ■ SEPTEMBER 2018