During the week of Sept. 23-29, the City of Wheaton will join communities across Illinois in promoting vehicle and pedestrian safety around railroad tracks and trains. During this 5th annual Illinois Rail Safety Week, the Wheaton Police Department will join Metra and law enforcement agencies statewide to raise awareness of rail safety issues through education and enforcement.
Extra enforcement details are planned throughout the week at various railroad grade crossings and commuter stations in Wheaton to cite both drivers and pedestrians who disobey the laws associated with railroad grade crossings and railroad property. In addition, police officers will be distributing literature to the public that contains information on how to be safe around trains and train tracks.
Please note that it is not only against the law to stop your vehicle on railroad tracks, it is also against the law to stop your vehicle anywhere within the highway-rail grade crossing, which is the area typically marked by white stop lines before the crossing or between the crossing gate arms on either side of a crossing.
In Illinois during 2017, there were 86 collisions at railroad crossings involving motor vehicles or pedestrians, resulting in 24 injuries and 21 fatalities. In addition, 41 incidents in which people trespassed on the railroad tracks resulted in 26 injuries and 15 fatalities. During 2017, Illinois ranked 2nd in the nation in collision fatalities and 8th in the nation in trespasser fatalities.
For more information about Illinois Rail Safety Week, please visit www.illinoisrailsafetyweek.org.