Buffalo Grove Police to Educate Public During Rail Safety Week

The Buffalo Grove Police Department will be partnering with the national rail safety nonprofit, Operation Lifesaver Inc., during Rail Safety Week which runs from September 22 through September 28, 2019.

Operation Lifesaver Inc. is focused on educating pedestrians and motorists to reduce crashes and fatalities involving locomotives. The Federal Railroad Administration’s Office of Safety Analysis has collected data on collisions at highway rail grade crossings since 1981. In that first year, there were 728 fatalities involving a train at a rail crossing; this number has decreased dramatically and was at 270 fatalities in the year 2018. However, these tragedies are preventable, and Buffalo Grove Police are doing their part to get the number of fatalities down to zero.

When the visual and audible signal is activated (red flashing lights) and the gate is either being opened, closed, or is in the closed position, it is a violation (625 ILCS 5/11-1201) for any vehicle to drive through, around or under any crossing gate or barrier at a railroad crossing. The penalty for violating this law is a $500 fine for a first offense. Vehicles must remain stopped until the gate is in the full, open position and the audible and visual signals are no longer activated. Pedestrians and cyclists must also comply with this statute.

Buffalo Grove Police officers will be out educating the public and ticketing violators during this week-long campaign. An educational event is planned for September 26 at the Buffalo Grove Metra Station, 825 Commerce Court, between 5:30 a.m. and 8:00 a.m.