Operation Lifesaver conducts safety sweep

On Monday, Operation Lifesaver is conducting its “Officer On A Train” program to help educate people across eastern Idaho about train safety, hoping to get everyone home safely for the Thanksgiving holiday.

Under this program, one law enforcement officer will be on board one of the trains running throughout the region, while other local law enforcement officers will be parked at other various train crossings. Those who drive through these crossings illegally will be given a citation.

Operation Lifesaver director Kim Davids said in the United States someone is hit by a train every three hours.

“That is why we are out here today doing the ‘Officer On A Train’ enforcement run – is to make sure everyone gets home to their families,” Davids said. “It’s a real tragic thing when somebody is involved in a railroad crossing incident.”

He said this past year, they have seen nine collisions on the Union Pacific Railroad and two on the Eastern Idaho Railroad.

This is down from the average in the late ’70s where they would see a collision every four days.

“Because of the way the train looks, and as you’re looking down the tracks, it sets up an optical illusion, similar to when you see a jet plane land,” Davids said.

Meaning, these trains are usually traveling faster than people normally think.

“It takes about four or five seconds to cross the tracks, and a train running 70 miles per hour will travel over 100 feet every second.”

Davids also mentioned most of the U.P. trains weigh about 6,000 tons and travel about 50 mph, so it takes approximately one mile before the train can come to a full stop.