Railroad promotes safety awareness in Prescott

By Prescott Police Department, 09/28/12 9:51 AM

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On Wednesday, September 26th, officers with Union Pacific Railroad, in cooperation with the Prescott City Police Department, conducted a Railroad Safety Enforcement Operation along the tracks in the City of Prescott.

The operation is designed to increase safety awareness and help educate the public through enforcement of people committing violations at the railroad grade crossings, as in “running the gates”.

Seven Prescott drivers were given a brief lesson Wednesday after being observed either running the crossing gates in front of the train, or not yielding to the flashing red lights prior to the gates being lowered.

The following railroad statistics were provided by Senior Special Agent John L. Schumacher, Public Safety Officer with Union Pacific Railroad.

2011 Collisions by State

1. Texas –———–202
2. Indiana –——– 117
3. California –—–114
4. Louisiana –——96
5. Illinois –——— 94
6. Georgia –——–89
7. Ohio –————71
8. Alabama –—— 63
9. Kentucky –——62
10. Michigan –——–57
11. Oklahoma –——- 57
12. Arkansas –——– 56
13. Wisconsin –——- 56
14. Tennessee –——–54
15. Florida –———– 52

Important Facts:

• Last collision in Prescott, Arkansas was 9/4/2004 at Olive Street.
• Arkansas is not in top 15 for fatalities per state.
• You’re 25 times more likely to die or be seriously injured in a collision with a train.
• Collisions have declined 84% nationwide since 1972.