The ND Highway Patrol (NDHP) will be conducting a “Trooper on a Train” enforcement detail from Mandan to Dickinson on Wednesday, April 25. The purpose of this event is to increase public awareness of the potential dangers that exist at highway-railroad grade crossings by enforcing the traffic laws that pertain to these intersections. This event also allows troopers to see traffic from the train crew’s perspective.
During a “Trooper on a Train” event, one trooper rides in the lead locomotive of the train as a spotter. This trooper observes traffic approaching the highway-rail grade crossings as the train proceeds down the tracks. Other troopers pace the train or are parked at specific locations along the tracks. When a motorist or pedestrian is observed violating the law, the trooper on the train radios one of the other troopers, who stop the motorist or pedestrian and explains the violation and issues a citation.
NDHP Safety and Education Officer Lt. Michael Roark notes that in keeping with the mission of the NDHP, “the public is encouraged to practice safety around train tracks and intersections as we work with the public to reduce deaths and injuries at crossings, around tracks and trains.” Roark notes, “the average train weighs 200 tons, making the ratio of a car to a train the same as a soda can to a car, not good odds if you are trying to beat a train.”
Roark went on to say the consequences for a driver failing to stop for an automatic railroad crossing signal, flagman, or train, or driving around a crossing gate or barrier results in a $50 fine and three points assessed to the license of the driver.
The NDHP’s ‘Trooper on a Train’ is one of many activities used to enhance public safety and to spread awareness of related traffic laws to include the dangers of failing to stop for oncoming trains or driving around railroad gates or barriers.