Indiana Car-Train Accidents Top In The Nation
Indiana is third in the nation in accidents involving cars and trains and Fifth in the nation in deaths related to those accidents. The accidents occur more often in Northern Indiana.
According to a 2004 report by the National Transportation Safety Board, there are 82,000 crossings in the country without gates. Gateless crossings are seven times more dangerous than crossings with gates.
Indiana was third in the nation in the number of motor vehicle accidents at gate crossings. The problem is only getting worse.
Last year, 20 people were killed at crossings -- seven more than in 2006. The number of crossing accidents increased by 24 last year -- from 137 in 2006 to 161 in 2007.
Indiana should make these crossings safer. The new gates need to be installed or substantially improved. The NTSB has said:
"The most effective option is quad gates. They have crossing arms that cover both lanes on both sides of the railroad track. In addition to preventing accidents by drivers who fail to see a train, they prevent drivers from driving around lowered gates. They are standard rail crossing protection in many European countries but are not widely used in the United States."
The problem needs to be solved quickly before more injuries and death occur at these unsafe in crossings in Indiana.
