Hinsdale Police Participate In Illinois Rail Safety Week

HINSDALE, IL — Hinsdale Police Department will participate in Illinois Rail Safety Week from Sept. 23 to Sept. 29. The state of Illinois, with support from the Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police and Illinois Operation Lifesaver has declared Illinois Rail Safety Week in order to promote vehicle and pedestrian safety around railroad tracks and trains, the department said.

To promote rail safety awareness and education, the Hinsdale Police Department will be participating in Illinois Rail Safety Week. The department said enforcement details are planned throughout the week
at various railroad grade crossings and commuter stations within Hinsdale to cite both drivers and
pedestrians who disobey the laws associated with railroad grade crossings and railroad property.

According to Operation Lifesaver, there are several factors that contribute to the occurrence of a train versus motor vehicle/pedestrian collision:

• A motorist/pedestrian will see a train coming, but grossly misjudge the actual speed and distance of the train.
• A motorist will try and beat a train to the crossing and either gets struck by the train or runs into the side of the train.
• As a train clears a crossing, the motorist/pedestrian immediately starts across the tracks without looking for other trains and either strikes or is struck by a train running on an adjacent track.
• A motorist becomes “too familiar” with a crossing and uses no caution whatsoever when coming to the crossing.
• The motorist fails to observe and obey the advance railroad warning sign and other crossing warning signs and signals.
• A motorist is intoxicated and cannot properly operate a motor vehicle.
• A motorist overdrives his/her headlights at night or fails to properly adapt his/her driving speed to the prevailing weather conditions and thus drives into the side of the train.
• A motorist/pedestrian becomes distracted by things such as cellular telephones, loud music, passengers, GPS systems, texting devices, etc. and becomes oblivious to his/her surroundings.

The department said residents should obey all laws associated with railroad grade crossings and property. When crossing railroad tracks, you must always follow the law and be aware of your surroundings.

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