See Tracks? Think Train Week, Sept. 21-27, highlights steps everyone can take to stay safe around trains and tracks
The next time you’re crossing MAX tracks — whether on foot, by bike or car — consider this: even a slow-moving train, traveling just 15 miles per hour, requires about 50 feet to stop. Operators may see you before you see them, but by then, there may not be enough time or distance to stop the train.
That’s why paying attention to MAX tracks matters.
Sept. 21-27 is See Tracks? Think Train Week, a nationwide rail safety awareness campaign that reminds people to make safe choices whenever they are around trains and tracks. More than 2,300 people in North America are killed or injured each year in railroad crossing and trespassing incidents, according to Operation Lifesaver.
Many of these incidents are preventable. Staying alert, following signs and signals and resisting distractions can make all the difference.
Trained for the unexpected
Every day, TriMet MAX operators safely navigate a rail system that runs through busy streets, intersections and neighborhoods
Operators are trained to anticipate the unexpected and make quick, informed decisions. They scan the tracks and surrounding environment for people, vehicles, bikes and other potential hazards.
But even the most attentive operator is limited by physics.
MAX trains are large, heavy vehicles, weighing more than 200,000 pounds when two are coupled together. They cannot stop or maneuver around obstacles like automobiles can.
Stop. Look. Listen.
Safety around MAX starts with a few simple habits. Whether you walk, bike, roll or drive across the tracks.
Look both ways before crossing. Especially at MAX stations, trains can approach from either direction. A train may be coming on the second track.
Obey all signals and warning devices. Never go around lowered gates or enter a crossing when warning lights are flashing.
Put away distractions. Take your eyes off your phone and remove or lower your headphones when approaching tracks so you can see and hear what is happening around you.
Cross only at designated crossings. Never walk along the tracks or use the trackway as a shortcut.
Never stop on the tracks. Drivers should ensure there is enough room on the far side of a crossing for their entire vehicle before proceeding.
Expect a train at any time. Don’t assume a train isn’t coming simply because you don’t immediately see or hear one, or because one passed by a few minutes before.
Never race a train. Trying to beat a train through an intersection or crossing isn’t worth the risk. At MAX stations, wait a safe distance from the edge until the train has stopped and you’re ready to board.
Operation Lifesaver reports that a person or vehicle is struck by a train about once every three hours in the United States. More than 60% of collisions happen at crossings equipped with lights, gates or both. This is a reminder that warning equipment only works when people follow it.
Safety is a shared responsibility
See Tracks? Think Train Week began in the United States in 2017 and is observed with rail safety partners across the U.S., Canada and Mexico. The campaign focuses on preventing crossing and trespassing incidents by encouraging people to recognize hazards and make safe decisions around trains. With safety being TriMet’s top priority, the agency is proud to take part in the annual awareness event
Riders, pedestrians, cyclists and drivers can help our operators by staying alert and respecting the tracks. When you see tracks, think train!