South Carolina Highway patrol partners with Operation Lifesaver to promote railroad crossing area safety

(Seneca, SC)————The South Carolina Highway Patrol is partnering this week with Operation Lifesaver to promote safety at railroad crossing areas during Rail Safety Week.

According to stats released by Trooper Joe Hovis with the South Carolina Highway Patrol, in 2018, four people were killed in 44 collisions involving a vehicle versus train, while every three hours, either a person or a vehicle is struck by a train across the United State.

Trooper Hovis, in stats that he released, says that a motorist is 20 times more likely to die in a crash involving a train and more people die in Highway-Rail Grade Crossing collisions in the U.S. than in all commercial and general aviation crashes combined.

Trooper Hovis says that everyday, motorists should pay attention when they approach a railroad crossing and do not go around the crossing arms if they are down. Plus, at every crossing, there is a blue sign with white lettering with information where you can call an 1-800 number, if your vehicle becomes disabled on the track or you are in need of assistance, and notify them so that they can stop any trains that may come through that area.

Trooper Hovis also recommends that motorists slow down as they approach a railroad crossing area and pay attention to the flashing red lights at railroad crossing’s as well as the railroad crossing arms when they come down. It is also a good idea to turn your radio down and pay attention so you can hear the horns of an approaching train, especially at those railroad crossing areas where there might not be crossing arms or flashing lights, especially in rural areas.