Month long railroad safety initiative in central Arkansas
BENTON, Ark. (KTHV) - Members of Central Arkansas Operation Impact Traffic Enforcement Group will conduct a month long traffic initiative focusing on railroad crossing safety and pedestrians trespassing on railroad property in August.
According to national non-profit organization Operation Lifesaver, a vehicle or person is hit by a train every three hours in the U.S. Arkansas was ranked number 15 in a list of states that have the highest percentage of rail grade collisions in the United States. These same statistics show that 73 percent of all highway-rail crossing fatalities for 2014 occurred in just 15 states, again with Arkansas in the list ranked at 14.
For the month of August, officials will be enforcing the rules regarding railroad safety. Lt. Curtis Wood with Central Arkansas Operation Impact Traffic Enforcement stated that anyone who tries to risk their life trying to beat an approaching train they will be cited.