It does not matter how big your vehicle is, you and your passengers are no match for a moving train. If you stall on railroad tracks, you are in a dangerous, most likely deadly, situation. Do not try to restart the vehicle. Get everyone out immediately. Many railroad crossings have information or even phones that provide direct lines to emergency personnel. Under Florida’s Emergency Notification System (ENS), all highway-rail grade crossings have white on blue signs. These signs show the exact crossing number of that location along with a phone number you can use to report an emergency. Use this information to report your exact location. Also remember that, even with everyone out of your vehicle, people on the train are still in danger.
u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0 If the railroad lights, bells, and warning gates activate, a collision is imminent u2013 probably no more than twenty seconds away. Get yourself and your passengers away from the train tracks. Proceed in a direction that is at a forty five degree angle from the tracks but towards the oncoming train. Why? When the train slams into your vehicle what direction do you think the debris will be thrown in? By escaping to a direction towards the train, you’ll be safe from the debris which should be thrown away from you.
TIP!u00a0u00a0u00a0 With a manual transmission, NEVER change gears on train tracks!
Travelling at very low speeds over the tracks and shifting gears is a main cause for stalling.