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