A safety campaign has been launched by Metro North to promote awareness about railroad crossing dangers.  The Metropolitan Transportation Authority has partnered with Operation Lifesaver, national organization devoted to reducing injuries and collisions at railroad crossings, in an effort to promote safety. 

MTA CEO Tom Prendergast says the best way to prevent needless tragedies is to observe the so-called Three E’s of crossing safety: education, engineering and enforcement.  One of the ideas being promoted on outdoor signs asks: "Isn't Your Life Worth the Wait?". 

Metro North officials compared the force of a train hitting your car as being similar to the force of your car crushing a soda can.  A Metro-North train traveling at 55 mph can take 600 feet or more to stop.

There was a fatal accident in Valhalla this year in which a woman's SUV was stopped on the tracks when the crossing gates came down around her.  The driver and five train passengers were killed.  One of the victims as 41-year old Aditya Tomar of Danbury.