See Tracks? Think Train Week

LHSC: Don’t risk your life by playing chicken with a train

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Sept. 16, 2025 – During “See Tracks? Think Train Week” through September 21, the Louisiana Highway Safety Commission is reminding drivers to always watch for trains when crossing railroad tracks and to never try to beat a train.

Although Louisiana ranks only 25^th among states in the number of rail-public road crossings, last year there were 89 collisions between trains and motor vehicles in the state, the seventh-highest number of crashes in the country, according to data from the Federal Railroad Administration. In many instances, crashes occur when vehicle drivers circumvent safety gates to beat a train across the tracks.

From 2015-2024, train-motor vehicle collisions in Louisiana killed 53 people and caused 442 injuries, according to the FRA.

“Trains always have the right of way, legally and practically,” LHSC Executive Director Lisa Freeman said. “Trying to save a minute on your drive by playing chicken with a train is not worth risking your life.”

A typical freight train weighs 6,000 tons – 4,000 times more than the average automobile – and travels at about 50 miles an hour. Because of the train’s weight, speed, and the low friction between the metal wheels and rails, it can take more than a mile for a train to come to a stop, even with the emergency brake applied.

“If you can see and hear a train coming, it won’t stop before it reaches you,” Freeman said.

Drivers should stop 15 feet behind a lowered gate. Once the train has passed, the driver should wait until the gate is fully raised and all lights have stopped flashing before moving forward.

“Some crossings don’t have automatic gates, so the driver should use good judgment in giving an oncoming train plenty of space,” Freeman said. “Keep in mind that trains can extend more than three feet beyond the rails.”

More safety tips include:

• Never assume a train is coming at the same time or from the same direction every day.
• When stopped at multiple sets of tracks and the train has cleared, check to ensure another train is not coming from the opposite direction before moving forward.
• Never stop on railroad tracks; cross the tracks and keep moving.
• If your car stalls on a track, quickly get everyone out, even if you don’t see a train. Run from the tracks and your car to avoid flying debris, and call 911.