Extension Communications
3614 Administrative Services Building
Ames, Iowa 50011-3614
(515) 294-9915
8-31-99
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contacts:
Charles Schwab, ISU Extension Safety Specialist, (515)
294-6360, cvschwab@iastate.edu
Laura Miller, Extension Safe Farm, (515) 294-4802, lwmiller@iastate.edu
Railroad Safety for Operators of Farm Equipment
AMES, Iowa -- Operators of farm equipment are especially vulnerable at railroad crossings, says an Iowa State University Extension safety specialist.
According to records kept by the Iowa Department of Transportation, three collisions in 1997 on railway crossings involved farm equipment. Charles Schwab, agricultural and biosystems engineer, said such collisions are deadly, and cautions farm equipment operators to use extra caution because farm vehicles may take longer to clear a railroad intersection because of their large size and slow speed.
"I think it's safe to always assume a train is coming," Schwab says. "Just like the practice of school buses that always stop at railroad crossings, farm equipment operators also might consider such stops a good safety measure, too."
All moving vehicles require some braking distance before coming to a complete stop. A loaded freight train traveling 55 mph takes a mile or more to stop after fully applying the brakes. Even a lighter train can take up to 600 feet to stop, so Schwab cautions other motorists never to assume the train engineer can avoid a collision by stopping for traffic on a highway-rail grade crossing.
Rail grade crossings on highways are marked with round yellow advance warning signs, as well as white markings on the pavement. Crossbuck signs are found at all highway intersections, too, which remind drivers to yield to trains. Many highway-rail grade crossings also have crossbuck signs and flashing red lights and bells, an indication that a train is approaching.
Unfortunately, not all crossings are as well marked on paved or gravel county roads. The Iowa DOT estimates Iowa has about 5,000 railroad crossings, many of them on these lesser used rural roads.
Schwab reminds farm equipment operators to remember that an optical illusion makes a train seem farther away and appear to be moving more slowly than it actually is. "You cannot accurately judge a train's speed or distance so do not take chances," he says. "Farm equipment on railway crossings are 100 percent preventable, so watch for the signs and use your common sense."
Farmers Should Stop, Look and Listen (30 seconds)
The familiar adage to "stop, look and listen" before you cross a railroad track is good advice for farm equipment operators.
Farm equipment often is larger than other vehicles, and doesn't travel as fast. It means that farm equipment operators are on the track and exposed to potential danger longer than drivers of cars, trucks, vans or other vehicles.
Review the routes you take to and from the field, take note of railroad crossings, and, above all, stop, look and listen for trains before you cross.
This message brought to you by this station and Iowa State University Extension's Safe Farm program, helping to make Iowa farms a safer place to live and work.
Extension programs are available to all without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, age, or disability.
Extension programs are available to all without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, age, or disability.