IN BUSY WORLD, TRAIN SAFETY MUST BE ON TRACK

Stop, look and listen.

Most of us learned this advice about crossing streets and railroad crossings in our school days. But in the rush of everyday life, too many people forget it.

The results can be deadly.

The number of railroad grade cross accidents, fatalities and injuries increased in Southeast Missouri last year.

A rural railroad crossing near Bernie in Stoddard County and several railroad crossings in and near Dexter had the most train-motor vehicle fatalities and collisions in Southeast Missouri last year.

Stoddard County ranked second in the state last year with 10 railroad grade crossing collisions. There were three grade crossing fatalities in Stoddard County last year, ranking the county among the top four in the state in that category.

According to the Missouri Division of Transportation's railroad safety office, there were 133 public grade crossing collisions in Missouri in 1990, an increase over the previous year.

Last year, 26 people were killed in train-vehicle accidents at public crossings. Another 36 received non-fatal but often serious injuries.

Counting private crossing and public crossing accidents, and those involving pedestrians and trespassing, there were 149 incidents last year. Thirty-five people were killed and another 45 were injured in the accidents.

These statistics are more than just numbers. They reflect the enormous price we pay when we become careless at railroad crossings and ignore common-sense safety precautions.

Train experts say most grade crossing collisions can be prevented by good driving habits. About 85 percent of the train-vehicle collisions are the result of inattention or poor judgment on the part of the motorists, they say.

More than 45 percent of these accidents occur at grade crossings equipped with bells, flashing lights and gates. But, authorities say, in too many cases, drivers ignore the clanging bell and the flashing light.

Unfortunately, they don't take into account that trains can't come to quick stops.

It takes more than a half mile to stop a 150-mile freight train weighing thousands of tons and traveling at 30 mph. In addition, it is difficult for motorists to estimate the speed of an oncoming train.

And trains don't have to be going fast to kill or maim. Twenty-three percent of last year's fatalities in Missouri occurred at train speeds of 10 mph or less.

The railroad safety officer's Operation Lifesaver program has successfully educated many in the public to the dangers that exist at railroad grade crossings.

On top of that, the railroads and law enforcement agencies have instituted the "Trooper on a Train" program, in which officers ride on the locomotives to watch for motorists who violate grade crossing safety rules. Offending motorists are subsequently issued tickets or warnings.

In today's hurry-up society, it's easy to forget to take the time to stop, look and listen. Bud doing so, could be a fatal mistake.

When it comes to safety precautions, we should all stay on track.