Each day, trains cross the 140,000 miles of railroad tracks that span the United States, delivering goods to different towns and cities. Despite the train tracks present through most cities and towns, it is easy to overlook the presence of trains.

You may even drive over train tracks on your daily commute without ever actually seeing a train. However, even if you don't usually encounter trains, you should still know about safe behavior near train tracks in order to prevent an emergency or accident.

Trains are massive machines. For this reason, they are highly destructive to anything they hit and cannot easily or quickly slow to a stop. Remember some important safety tips for crossing train tracks either with your car or by foot.

If you are crossing railroad tracks by foot:

• Never walk along the tracks.
• If a train approaches, stay far away from the edge of the tracks. Train cars can extend up to three feet outside the edge of the tracks.
• Never place any foreign object on the tracks. When a train collides with the object, it can fling it out from the tracks, causing serious injury or fatality to any bystanders.

If you are crossing railroad tracks by car:

• Slow down and look for the train in both directions. Modern trains are quieter and much faster than older models, and therefore you may not hear the train approaching.
• Always obey warning signals on the tracks. Never cross tracks when the crossbar is lowered or when lights are flashing.
• Never try to race a train across the tracks. A train could be moving faster than it appears.
• Never stop your car in the middle of the tracks.
• Never force any other vehicle to stop on top of the tracks. If the vehicle in front of or behind you is trapped on the tracks, attempt to move your vehicle so that the other car may clear the tracks.
• Use extreme caution when crossing tracks at night. Many night-time car accidents involving trains occur when a motorist drives a car directly into the side of a moving train. The side of a train is difficult to see in low light.

Accidents involving trains can have tragic results for everyone involved. For this reason, it is important to be familiar with safety near train tracks. For more information about vehicle safety and accident prevention and resolution, visit the website of Indianapolis accident lawyers of the Charles D. Hankey Law Office.

Joseph Devine Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Joseph_Devine