Pedestrian & Vehicle Safety Around RTD Is Paramount

It seems that every month there is yet another story about a public transit accident involving RTD trains. Last month, another pedestrian was killed when they were struck by a train on the A-line. The accident occurred less than a week after a vehicle collided with another train, also on the A-line. The bottom line is that RTD needs to do more to prevent contact between moving trains and the public.

For now, it’s imperative that the public take steps to protect themselves when using RTD trains or approaching the tracks. The following steps can help ensure you don’t end up in the next headline.

• Look twice both ways. Whether you are on foot or in a vehicle, always look twice before crossing the tracks. This is crucial because crossing guards can malfunction and fail to lower when a train approaches.
• Listen closely. Take out the earphones, put down the phone, and open the window if you’re in a car. Listen for the sound of the train and don’t cross until you verify no train is present.
• Don’t skirt crossing guards. If the guards are down, don’t attempt to walk or drive around them. When you do this, a ticket is the least of your worries.
• Don’t walk over or along the tracks. Never attempt to walk along the tracks or cross tracks anywhere but a marked intersection.
• Stay on the right side of the fence/warning strip. Some RTD stations have fences between the platform and train, others have yellow warning strips. When you are on the platform, stand back and stay on the right side of these. Being a few inches closer to the train won’t help you board any faster.
• Wait for the doors to open before approaching the train. The train may look stopped, but it can jolt forward without warning. Wait for the doors to open before attempting to board the carriage.
• Don’t race the train. Trains move faster and come to a stop slower than you may realize. Never assume you can race across the track to beat the train before it reaches you.

It’s our pleasure to help you avoid a public transit accident. Whether you’re in Boulder, Aurora, Longmont, Loveland, or anywhere along the Front Range, we invite you to contact the team at Sloat, Nicholson & Hoover, P.C. at (303) 447-1144 for more public transit safety advice.