FLAWED RISK PERCEPTIONS ARE LEADING HUMAN FACTOR IN RAILROAD GRADE CROSSING CRASHES

METROLINK eNEWS

Immediate Release: Tuesday, March 16, 1999

Contact:   Peter Hidalgo
      Metrolink Media Relations
      (213) 452-0233

NEWS RELEASE

FLAWED RISK PERCEPTIONS ARE LEADING HUMAN FACTOR IN RAILROAD GRADE CROSSING CRASHES

Metrolink Warns Motorists to Always Expect A Train

LOS ANGELES, CA, TUESDAY, MARCH 16, 1999: Metrolink advises Southern Californians to use caution while driving during this winter season as most highway-rail crossing incidents occur during the months of January through March.

Recent railroad grade-crossing tragedies highlight the need for continued efforts to end the loss of life at intersections. According to a recent federal report, the number of highway-rail collisions has declined each year for the last three years. However, the winter months remain the time when Southland motorists are most likely to be involved in these incidents.

Metrolink safety officials note that the stresses of the winter season and inclement weather can distract a driver from practicing common safety measures at highway-rail intersections. The situation is complicated by the public's flawed perception of their risk of being injured or killed at highway-rail grade crossings. Unfortunately, this inattention can result in needless tragedy. California statistics indicate that 22 collisions resulted in fatalities in 1997. Metrolink recorded four fatalities in 1998.

We can help eliminate highway-rail collisions if we remember a few simple safety precautions and to always expect a train," John Kerins, Metrolink Director of Operations, said. "Any collision is one too many, but we are heartened that our safety record has improved consistently in recent years." The challenge is to change the Southern California mindset to always expect a train.

Metrolink employees work every day to eliminate deaths and injuries at crossings. Research reveals that the public does not see trains as especially dangerous or life threatening. The majority of younger respondents had never even been on a train.
The report indicated that if warning signals are flashing and no train is clearly in sight, drivers assume it has left the scene or is still far in the distance-some people estimated trains to be 20 miles away.

"We want Southlanders to know that they should 'Always Expect a Train' at the crossing. In fact, a crash between a vehicle and a train occurs nearly every 90 minutes in the United States," Kerins said. "A person is 30 times more likely to die in a train collision than a collision involving another vehicle because of the speed and power of the train compared with the vehicle--there is no contest. The personal car fares as well in a contest with a locomotive as a soda can does when placed beneath the wheel of a car--very little remains but a sliver of aluminum."

The ultimate goal of Metrolink, through a partnership with the non-profit rail safety organization Operation Lifesaver Inc., is to eliminate highway-rail collisions by encouraging every motorist to LOOK, LISTEN ... AND LIVE!

For additional rail safety tips visit the Metrolink Website at www.metrolinktrains.com.

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