Full Notification

In an effort to prevent tragic accidents at railroad crossings, Camillus Police Department officials are warning motorists to remain alert when driving near railroad crossings at several locations within the Town of Camillus.

"Fortunately, vehicle collisions with trains are rare in Camillus. We are warning motorists not to become complacent around railroad tracks and to remain alert so we don’t have an incident similar to what has recently occurred downstate and again today in California” said Thomas M. Winn, Chief of Police

According to Operation Lifesaver, Inc., a national non-profit organization dedicated to rail safety education, someone in the U.S. is struck by a train every three hours. Information from the organization says 95 percent of train-related deaths involve drivers trying to beat a train or people trespassing on railroad tracks.

Operation Lifesaver warns motorists to maintain a distance of at least 15 feet from the rails and to be aware that trains are moving faster than they appear. A typical freight train can take more than a mile to stop, even when the emergency brakes are applied.

The organization recently launched a public information campaign with the message, "See Tracks? Think Train!" Here are some of the tips the campaign offers motorists for operating around railroad crossings:

* Be aware that trains cannot stop quickly. Even if the locomotive engineer sees you, a freight train moving 55 miles per hour can take a mile or more to stop once the emergency brakes are applied. That's 18 football fields!

* Never drive around lowered gates -- it's illegal and deadly. If you suspect a signal is malfunctioning, call the Camillus Police Department at (315) 435-2333 or Dial 911.

* Do not get trapped on the tracks during stop-and-go traffic; proceed through a highway-rail grade crossing only if you are sure you can completely clear the crossing without stopping. Remember, the train is three feet wider than the tracks on both sides.

* If your vehicle ever stalls on a track with a train coming, abandon your vehicle immediately. Get out and move quickly away from the tracks in the direction from which the train is coming. If you run in the same direction the train is traveling, when the train hits your car you could be injured by flying debris.