'See Tracks, Think Train' campaign underway in Wisconsin

DE PERE, Wis. — A national rail safety campaign in De Pere urges people to stay alert near tracks after Wisconsin recorded four rail deaths and 37 collisions as of August.

A person or vehicle is involved in a preventable train collision every three hours in America, according to the National Safety Council. A national campaign, called ‘See Tracks, Think Train, is underway this week to promote rail safety and prevent these incidents.

An 80-year-old woman died in De Pere after falling while crossing these train tracks in April. Unfortunately, rail deaths happen too often. Christopher Wendorf, a Special Agent from Fond du Lac with the Canadian National Railway Police Department, said trains always have the right of way.

“If the train is stopped, do not go cross it. Do not try to go through it. That’s illegal too. Boarding a train or trying to go onto a train or off a train in that area,” Wendorf said.

Russ Kollmansberger is also a special agent with Canadian National Railway. He’s working to educate Wisconsinites about rail safety through the campaign ‘See Tracks, Think Train ’.

“What we’re trying to do is to raise awareness about the dangers about being around railroad property,” Kollmansberger said.

Kollmansberger said rail fatalities happen more than people think. “You’re actually 20 times more likely to die in a crash with a train than you are with another motor vehicle.”

Believe it or not, it can be hard to hear slow-moving trains. Some local ordinances require train horns to be silenced during certain times of day- in non-emergency situations. So Wendorf said, stay alert and pay attention when nearing a railroad crossing.

“The round signs with the black cross on it that say ‘RR’. Those are known as advanced warning signs. Look for the lights. Look for the gates. Look for the crossbuck or the stop sign, whatever protections are at that crossing.”

As of August this year, Operation Lifesaver reported four rail deaths, 37 collisions, and eight injuries in Wisconsin. Wendorf said these numbers are too high, and that’s why he’s dedicated to rail safety awareness.

“That would be great if we could get the numbers down to zero for fatalities in Wisconsin,” Wendorf said.

'See Tracks, Think Train' campaign underway in Wisconsin

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