Train Crossing Safety

It doesn`t happen every day, but now and then you hear of a car trying to beat the train, and things end deadly. So it was incredibly startling to see so many people want to take that risk-- gambling with their lives. Train engineer and conductor Kevin Hallmark says he`s surprised the accident wasn`t any worse, when he almost hit one car racing across the tracks. "I don`t see how we didn`t hit. I lost complete sight of the car... and then I just saw the car come out on the other side." Hallmark says every day cars just like these try to beat his train coming. Many times--even when there is a train extremely close-- people still don`t come to a complete stop. "That happens every day." Bud Pulley with the Arkansas and Missouri Railroad says people are impatient these days and they don`t want to wait only a few minutes to let the train pass. "Yes, theyre just being impatient. Theyre driving carelessly, and they dont want to take the time to stop for two seconds to let the train pass." And just remember, it only takes one second to put your family`s life in jeopardy, or to secure their future. So this engineer says be patient- and let them do their job. "It just makes it worse when they`re school buses or a minivan full of car seats... it doesn`t take a second... or even a minute for us to get by."