New Kent County Sheriff’s Office gives safety tips for Rail Safety Week

NEW KENT COUNTY, Va. (WRIC) — The New Kent County Sheriff’s Office is providing safety tips to drivers in recognition of Rail Safety Week.

If your vehicle becomes stuck on train tacks at a railroad crossing, the sheriff’s office said to take the following steps:

1. Get out of the vehicle immediately.
2. Find the blue sign located near the railroad crossing.
3. Look for the crossing identification number on the sign. Each crossing has a unique identification number.
4. Call the phone number on the sign and report the crossing number. The phone number goes directly to the train dispatcher. This is the fastest way to have the train stopped.

Even if you don’t see a train, the sheriff’s office said drivers should always take those steps if their vehicle becomes stuck on train tracks.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has also provided general tips that drivers can follow near train crossings.

1. Stop, look both ways and listen. Know that trains always have the right of way.
2. Don’t stop on the tracks. Make sure you have room to get across. Once you enter the crossing, keep moving.
3. Stop 15 feet away from flashing red lights, lowered gates, a signaling flagman or a stop sign.
4. Never drive around a lowering gate or ignore signals.
5. After a train passes, wait for gates to fully rise and for all lights to stop flashing before your cross.
6. Never assume that there is only one train coming from a single direction.

In addition, the administration said that if your vehicle is stuck on the track and the phone number on the sign is not visible, call 911 instead.

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