MADISON, WI (WTAQ) – This week has been declared Rail Safety Week in Wisconsin.
Governor Walker’s declaration has various organizations out in communities throughout the state.
“We’re doing crossing blitzes where we watch motorists so they don’t run the red light. We’re doing pedestrian crossings, because our trespass accounts have been up.”
Susie Klinger with Operation Lifesaver says her group is trying to make people more aware of how the law impacts the state’s railroads.
“Railroad property is private property, so 25 feet on either side of that track belongs to the railroad. We don’t want you to take shortcuts across it. We want you to go at designated crossings.”
Klinger notes that failing to act safely near railroad tracks can have serious consequences.
“Last year, Wisconsin had 46 crashes in the state. There were two fatalities, with 15 injuries.”
Klinger, who is also a locomotive engineeer, notes an additional person died and three others were injured in pedestrian trespassing incidents on tracks.
“When the lights are flashing, we need you to stop. It’s so scary, because we don’t have a steering wheel in that locomotive. We can’t turn. We can stop but just not quickly.”
Klinger says roughly 55% of railroad crashes actually happen at crossings with lights and gates, as compared to those that only have yield signs.
