Crossing Crashes Are The Fault Of Motorists, Railroads Say

By TED JACKOVICS The Tampa Tribune

Published: Jul 19, 2007

TAMPA - Here are some frequently raised questions about accidents at railroad crossings and answers gathered from interviews with government and railroad officials.

Why do collisions between trains and vehicles continue to occur despite all the news about fatal accidents?

Railroad officials say it's because motorists use bad judgment at crossings - at those protected by gates and lights and at private road crossings with no warning other than a sign for motorists.

What makes railroad officials say that?

One reason is that half the crossing accidents on CSX-owned tracks, which Amtrak uses in Florida, occur at crossings with gates and lights that motorists drive past before they are struck.

Does everyone agree with railroad officials' appraisal?

Attorneys for clients injured in accidents sometimes raise the point that crossings might not be adequately marked. In addition, others who study crossing accidents raise issues regarding how the eye and brain form images of a moving train at a crossing.

That sounds complex. Is there any simple explanation?

Several factors come into play in the way the brain processes information from the retina of the eye. That depends in part on the angle of the approaching train for a motorist who is focusing primarily on the road ahead. In short, there are some combinations of a vehicle and train speed and distance that may impair decision-making.

What factors determine train speed limits?

Railroads say the first issue is safety. They analyze the track, topography and schedules they want their trains to keep to maintain economic efficiency for the railroad and customer. Trains do run at top speeds through highway crossings.

How fast was the Amtrak going when Tuesday's accident occurred near Plant City?

How fast the train was moving won't be known until the Federal Railroad Administration completes its investigation, although City Manager David Sollenberger said his staff was told it was going 74 mph.

Who determines whether a crossing is protected by a gate and lights?

The state Department of Transportation determines the level of crossing warnings, based on traffic counts. The federal government pays most of the cost of gated crossings, with the state and the railroad that owns the track also chipping in.

How often do train accidents occur?

Federal statistics show that the nation's 600 Amtrak, commuter and freight railroads report an accident involving injury or property damage every 40 minutes, but a small number of those involve collisions between vehicles and trains at highway crossings.

How frequently do crossing accidents occur?

Amtrak was involved in 143 crossing accidents nationwide in 2006, the Federal Railroad Administration reported. The remaining U.S. freight and commuter railroads reported 2,775.

Information from the Federal Railroad Administration, CSX and Amtrak was used in this report. Reporter Ted Jackovics can be reached at (813) 259-7817 or tjackovics@tampatrib.com.