California has over 6,800 miles of active railroad tracks—the fourth-largest rail network in the United States. Many of these tracks run near or through agricultural communities. Farm equipment operators and agricultural workers often work near active rail lines that pass through or alongside farmland.
Railroad tracks are private property; they are not part of the farm or worksite. Being on the tracks is illegal and extremely dangerous.
In the United States, every three hours, a person, or vehicle is struck by a train. Trains are deceptive: they move faster, and quieter than expected and cannot stop quickly. California leads the nation in rail. related fatalities.
We can help change this statistic by avoiding dangerous behaviors around tracks and trains—and choosing safety first, every time.
Stay Off! Stay away!
- Never walk on, stand on, or walk alongside railroad tracks.
- Stay at least 15 feet away from the nearest rail at all times.
- Trains are quieter and faster than they appear and cannot stop quickly.
- A train can approach without warning, and the engineer may not see you in time to stop the train
Don’t Take Shortcuts – No Distractions - Not A Rest Area
- Never use railroad tracks as a shortcut, even if it seems faster or familiar.
- Stay alert! Eyes up. Phone down. No texting. Remove your headphones.
- Avoid distractions! Distractions can be deadly.
- Never use railroad tracks for a break or lunch area. It is illegal and extremely dangerous to be on the tracks.
Obey All crossing signals and signs
- Whether on foot in a vehicle, never cross when lights are flashing or the bells are ringing
- These warning signs and signals mean a train is approaching, even if you don’t see it yet.
- Never go around lowered gates. Never try to beat a train!
See tracks? think TRAIN®.
Stay Alert! Rail safety depends on your awareness, patience, and following the signs, signals, and laws every time! No deadline, load, or piece of equipment is worth a life.
Protect yourself. Protect others. Share these Rail Safety Tips and Go home safe at the end of the day!
If there are no signals, gates, or signs always make safe choices near tracks and trains:
- Look both ways
- Listen for a train
- Only proceed if there is no train coming and it is completely safe to do so
- If you see tracks, assume a train could be coming at any time, on any track, from either direction.
- Always Expect A Train!
Visit Operation Lifesaver for more agricultural safety tips for farmers and farm machinery operators.
In case you missed it, be sure to read part 1 of this series: Rail Safety for the Agricultural Community: Smart Choices Saves Lives.
