Introduction

Materials:

Map of NJ Transit Train Fatalities

US Train Fatalities

Operation Lifesaver

Activities:

Discuss with your teacher what you think railroad safety is. We will be examining this topic in greater detail. The goal at this point is to see what you know. Do not worry if you do not know the material at this point. This is to be done before you start the writing assignment below.

Discussion Questions:

1. What railroads run through town and what do you notice about the trains?

2. Are there areas where people go where trains are?

3. What is railroad safety? Describe what you think it is to your teacher.

4. What do you think of the excuses people make for doing something wrong?

5. What questions do you have on being safe around railroads?

6. Are there areas in town where people gather near the tracks?

7. What do you notice about the map of NJ Transit railroad branches?

8. What do you notice about the train strikes on the map of the US?

Writing Activity:

Read all the materials before answering the questions!! In a Google Document, write about a railroad in your town. You will share this with the class.

1. 1. Why are we learning railroad safety and why is it important?

   2. What do you think you can do to reduce the risk of injury from trains?

   3. Do rules have a purpose? Explain.

   4. What are the excuses people may use to not follow the rules?

   5. Identify the consequences of not following the rules.

   6. What may be some other impacts of not following the rules?

   7. How important is it to set an example by following the rules?

   8. How often does a train strike a person in the US?

   9. Look at both maps posted on WHAT RAILROAD SAFETY IS. Pick one story from each map and describe the event and what happened.

Do you really know what rail safety is?

Are you really the expert you think you are about trains?

These questions are going to be answered in this website. They're not questions to make you feel stupid or put you down. Their purpose is to get you to think and realize there is a false sense of security and poor understanding people have around trains. In doing this webquest, you will know the truth and hopefully walk away with a better understanding of what railroad safety is.

Some of the answers have come from people who were killed or seriously injured by an oncoming train. LISTEN to their testimonials. They learned hard and brutal lessons. Some people saw their friends die or get hurt. What you are going to see has to be harsh and unpleasant because it is a harsh and unpleasant reality. No cartoons or CGI. As quickly as it takes this sentence to be read, it can all be over in a flash.