To save lives and heighten public awareness of rail safety, Norfolk Southern and the Dalton Police Department will conduct an education and enforcement program, Norfolk Southern Trespass Abatement Program, in Dalton on Wednesday, March 4 and Thursday, March 5, 10 a.m. at Dalton Police Department, 301 Jones St. The goal will be to reduce the number of deaths and injuries resulting from people trespassing on railroad tracks, rights of way, and equipment.
On Wednesday, Norfolk Southern railroad police and Dalton police officers will canvas Norfolk Southern’s line in Dalton to distribute safety material and discuss railroad safety. On Thursday, officials will patrol the tracks a second time and issue trespassing citations to violators.
Whitfield ranks among the top 20 counties in Georgia for highway-rail grade crossing incidents and trespass casualties. Between 2005 and 2014, nine trespass casualties in Whitfield County claimed the lives of seven people and resulted in two injuries. In 2014 alone, two trespassers died after being struck by trains.
Nationwide in 2014, 526 people were killed while trespassing on railroad property. Georgia’s 18 trespasser deaths in 2014 ranked ninth highest among all states, and an additional 11 trespassers were injured in 2014.
The reasons for these incidents vary, but in many cases it is because people do not consider that walking on railroad tracks or using railroad rights of way for shortcuts is dangerous and illegal. The objective of Norfolk Southern’s trespass abatement program is to save lives by raising public awareness of the dangers and consequences of trespassing on railroad property and equipment.
Top 5 railroad safety tips for pedestrians:
1. Trespassing on railroad tracks is dangerous and illegal. Tracks, trestles, rail yards and equipment are private property. If you walk, hunt, fish or ride all-terrain vehicles on railroad tracks, you are trespassing. You could lose your life or be seriously injured.
2. The only safe place to cross railroad tracks is at a designated public crossing, where there are warning signals such as a crossbuck, flashing lights and bells, or gates. If you cross at any other place, you are trespassing and can be ticketed and fined.
3. Trains overhang the tracks by at least three feet on either side. If you are in the right of way next to a track, you can be hit by a train.
4. Do not hunt, fish or bungee jump from railroad trestles. Trestles have room for a train only. Trestles are not designed to be sidewalks or pedestrian bridges. Never walk, run, cycle or operate ATVs on railroad tracks, rights of way or through railroad tunnels.
5. Never attempt to hop aboard railroad equipment. A slip of the foot can cost you a limb or your life.
Remember this: See tracks? Think trains. Your unauthorized use of railroad rights of way could be your last trip anywhere.
Since the early 1970s, Norfolk Southern has supported Operation Lifesaver, a national railroad safety campaign to prevent trespasser casualties and incidents at highway-rail grade crossings. For more information, visit the Georgia Operation Lifesaver website at www.georgiaol.org. In 2007, Norfolk Southern launched “Train Your Brain” to remind everyone to be smart around railroad property. For more information, go to www.brainysworld.com.