Railroads have been a part of American lives since the mid-1800s and continue to serve us both for passenger needs and supply transport. The difference between trains in the 19th century and trains of the 20th century is the speed of travel. With the advent of the stimulus package in early 2009, the government is funding improvements to passenger rail, which is raising train speed. Because of this, railroad crossings are becoming increasingly dangerous as trains are topping out at speeds close to 90 mph. While freight trains only hit a speed of 45 mph on the average, highway crossings still present a dangerous intersection for travelers.

According to the Federal Railroad Administration, there have been nearly 1,000 collisions between a train and motor vehicle at highway railroad crossings since January of this year. Out of this total, close to a quarter of the accidents resulted in a fatality, and 75 percent of those involved sustained a serious injury. Texas has tallied the highest number of these types of injuries due to the large number of drivers on Texas highways and more demand for railroad commerce. In the event of such a collision, it is recommended for the injured party to hire a Texas injury lawyer.

Dallas in particular is home to a large number of railroad accidents. Tarrant County, the seat of Fort Worth, was ranked second in the state for highway-railroad casualties. Drivers in this area are encouraged to contact a Fort Worth injury lawyer if they fall victim to a railroad crossing accident. Railroad accidents can be caused by a number of factors. Most commonly, accidents occur from defective crossing signals, negligent train or vehicle drivers, poor train operating practices, inadequate train track and rail inspection, defective highway railroad crossing warnings, and excessive train speeds.

While there are a number of safety measures to abide by when driving, some safety guidelines for railroad crossings include the following: always expect a train (even if you don’t see one), obey all crossing laws, never drive under closed gates or drive when there are lights flashing, approach a railroad intersection with extra caution, and when possible, stay off of the tracks unless it is absolutely necessary to cross.

As railroads continue to be an important mode of transportation in the United States for passenger and supply transport, it is important to understand the risk involved with highway railroad crossings, and know your options if an accident does. Drive with a high level of caution and be aware of your surroundings whenever you find yourself at a railroad crossing.