CECILIA, Ky. (WDRB) -- A train crashes into a person or vehicle every three hours in the United States.
"See tracks, think trains," Chris Esche, the Paducah and Louisville Railway manager of safety, security, and training said.
Walking on railroad tracks is not only dangerous, it’s also illegal because tracks are private property. Esche said lately he's seen more accidents and trespassers.
"They think they can see a train before they approach and get off the tracks, but it's not always the case," he said.
While some trains make a lot of noise, many are silent.
"We get people saying there's never trains in the area, when in reality there are, they just might not know that," Esche said.
People won’t always hear trains coming and often don't move off the tracks fast enough.
"it can take up to a mile to stop a train, depending on how large they are," Esche said.
While there are often flashing lights and automatic gates, people don't always follow the law.
"Many times it's the pedestrians failed to yield, whether they're going around gates or not stopping at the flashing lights," P&L Director of Safety and Security Adam BraBoy said.
The Paducah and Louisville Railway on Nov. 15, 2023. (WDRB photo)
In 2022, Kentucky had 41 train collisions, 10 injuries, and 4 deaths.
"It's not always just the victim and the victim's family," Braboy said. "As sad as that is, oftentimes train crew members' are affected very deeply by that."
Esche urges everyone to stay clear of the tracks and focus when crossing.
"Pay attention around railroad tracks, turn the volume down, and look both ways before crossing the tracks," Esche said.
In an emergency call 911 or look for the blue signs at crossings. Those have the emergency phone number and the exact crossing location to help the dispatcher find you.
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