In a recent feature on NBC’s Today, investigative correspondent Jeff Rossen readily admitted a foolish and dangerous mistake he made that might have put the lives of his three young children at risk. In his report, Rossen showed a photo he had snapped and posted on social media showing his two daughters and son standing on a train track. That photo triggered a barrage of criticism, primarily from parents. So intense was the response that Rossen decided to look into the issue as both a parent and a journalist.
Rossen’s subsequent Today feature included an experiment facilitated by Jacksonville-based CSX Transportation that clearly illustrated just how close a freight train can be before someone standing near the track hears it – far closer than you might imagine. That’s because, spurred in part by residential neighborhoods’ complaints about noisy trains, technology has made trains quieter than ever. According to the Federal Railroad Administration, the sound of an average railcar traveling at 50 miles per hour measures in decibels between a loud voice and a shout. Trees lining a track corridor can further muffle the sound. Add the constant distraction of mobile phones, digital music players, etc. and the risks are clear.
Another factor is that the stopping distance of even a slower moving train leaves little to no chance for track trespasser to get out of the way. A light rail train requires about 600 feet to stop. That’s equivalent to the length of two football fields. The average freight train traveling at 55 miles an hour may take the length of about 18 football fields to stop. Keep in mind that a train can’t swerve to miss a person or obstacle in its path the way a car can. The only option is for an engineer to apply the emergency brake, sound the horn and hope that a person on the track can clear the track before it’s too late.
Keep in mind that trespassing on train tracks is illegal. FRA statistics show that 950 people were reported trespassing on railroad property in 2015. Of these incidents, 500 incidents proved fatal.
We here at Jacksonville’s Rail Justice urge you to follow the law and find a different locale to snap your selfie or other photo. If you or someone you love suffers a loss or injury in a train accident due to someone else’s negligence, call 888-519-RAIL to speak with an experience railway injury lawyer.
