April 19-25 Train Safety Awareness Week
Gov. Charlie Crist proclaimed April 19-25, as Train Safety Awareness Week. In conjunction with this, the Fort Myers Police Department’s Traffic and Patrol Units will be looking for violations at railroad crossings throughout the city. Officers will also be watching the railroad tracks looking for individuals trespassing on railroad property. FMPD will educate the public by handing out fliers and enforcing laws as they pertain to crossing railroads within the state.
According to Crist’s office, during the past five years, there have been 518 highway-rail grade crossing crashes in the state, which have resulted in 80 fatalities. During the same period there were 241 trespassing incidents resulting in 146 fatalities.