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A New Campaign is Launched to Reduce the Number of Train Accidents in the United States

A news release from the Elaine L. Chao, the U.S. Secretary of Transportation, notes a new campaign being launched to reduce the number of train accidents throughout the country. Keep reading to learn about the proposed measures or contact The Law Offices of Larry H. Parker at 800-333-0000 if you or a loved one has been injured in a train accident, and you need help from an experienced personal injury attorney.

The Public Education Campaign is Already in Full Swing

The public education campaign, which is called “Stop. Trains Can’t.” has already begun and will continue to run through November 8th. This safety campaign cost more than $6.5 million and will run on the radio, digitally, and on social media. The goal is to educate drivers that it is not worth gambling with their lives when they come across railroad crossings.

The campaign will be throughout the country but with particular emphasis on high-risk crossings in Alabama, Texas, California, Tennessee, Georgia, and Indiana. The campaign focuses on teaching drivers that most fatal accidents involving cars and trains are entirely preventable. The campaign is being jointly run by the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) along with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

Technology is Part of the Puzzle – But Not the Biggest Piece

The head of the FRA notes that as technology improves, the number of fatal train accidents will go down. However, he notes that this is not enough in and of itself. The key is that driver awareness is necessary to bring down the fatality rate significantly. Why? Because trains are not capable of swerving out of the way of an accident or stopping quickly.

Many People Do Not Realize How Common Train Accidents Are

It is common for people to assume that train accidents affect only a handful of people each year. The truth is that in the last five years, nearly 800 people have lost their lives when trying to drive across train tracks. Just last year alone, 126 people died, and 635 were injured at railroad crossings. Of those who were killed, three out of four died after the driver decided they could go around the lowered or lowering crossing gate arms.

What to Do if You Are Involved in a Train Accident

If you or a loved one is injured in a train accident, your first step should be getting medical care. A close second is contacting a personal injury attorney to determine what your legal rights are. You can contact The Law Offices of Larry H. Parker at 800-333-0000 now for a free legal consultation. We are standing by to help you determine the best way forward and to work tirelessly to get you the compensation you deserve for your damages. Call now.