ALAMOSA - The Colorado State Patrol and San Luis Valley Rio Grande Railroad are asking motorists to use caution and obey the law at all railroad crossings.
“Several narrow escapes between motorists and locomotives have prompted the state patrol to step up our enforcement campaign against motorists who are attempting to beat the train,” patrol Capt. Lawrence Martin said Tuesday. “This type of driving behavior will not be tolerated and motorists will be ticketed for failing to yield the right of way at a railroad crossing.”
“Engineers with the San Luis Valley Rio Grande Railroad have seen a dramatic increase in the number of drivers making bad decisions at railroad crossings,” Martin said. “These dangerous driving decisions could eventually cause a crash with catastrophic serious or fatal injuries as a result.”
Motorist cooperation is the key. Drivers should observe traffic control devices at all railroad crossings, yield as required and report any dangerous driving to the CSP, Martin said.
- Erin Smith