Muleskinner

Issue date: 10/9/08 Section: Voices

Media Credit: Drew Woolery: Muleskinner Commentary: Molly Saunders.

It still amazes me the number of people who don't understand the power of trains. Yes, I'm talking about those huge freight trains that crush pennies and make us late for work.

It was one of these trains that killed a mother and her daughter in Kansas City this weekend.

This was, of course, a horrible tragedy, especially for the victims' friends and families. And I hope readers understand that I do have a heart, and it is, in fact, quite large when it comes to caring about and helping others. But this tragedy could have been prevented.

I can honestly say every time I get behind the wheel of my reliable little Escort, I realize how thankful I am of the Drivers Education class my parents made me take in high school.

I'm thankful because every time I drive, especially here in Warrensburg, I see people doing, or not doing, things I know are illegal or dangerous. I'm thankful because I know the skills that could save my life.

One of the most important things I learned from my parents and in my Drivers Education class, was to never stop my car on railroad tracks. This means not stopping even when I'm in line behind another vehicle and the ARMS are clearly not coming down. While this seems obvious to some people, it is quite annoying and ridiculous to others.

However, when one takes into account the fact that a freight train traveling at 55 MPH takes ONE MILE to come to a complete stop one realizes how heavy these trains really are.

And no, it probably was not the conductor's fault that the mother and her daughter died. Making the decision not to stop on railroad tracks can save your life.

While there are many other life-saving rules I learned in drivers education, this is the one that I encounter every single time I look at or travel across railroad tracks. If everyone knew the importance of respecting the power of freight trains, perhaps tragedies like this would occur less often, or never again.

I hope all of you realize how important this rule is and you'll take a second thought the next time you try to cross the tracks in front of a train or park on them.

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