Voice of the people: See tracks? Think train!

The Ledger
·3 min read
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In Florida last year, there were 36 trespasser deaths and 21 injuries, along with 22 grade crossing fatalities and 46 crossing injuries (as of August 2022).
In Florida last year, there were 36 trespasser deaths and 21 injuries, along with 22 grade crossing fatalities and 46 crossing injuries (as of August 2022).

See tracks? Think train!

Although most Americans today know the dangers associated with distracted driving or texting while crossing the street, not enough attention is given to the dangerous and illegal risks people take around railroad tracks.

In Florida last year, there were 36 trespasser deaths and 21 injuries, along with 22 grade crossing fatalities and 46 crossing injuries (as of August 2022). In fact, every three hours in the United States a vehicle or person is struck by a train.

So, why is this happening, and what can we do about it?

In our distracted society, people may become complacent or might not understand the need for caution near railroad tracks and trains. Pedestrians and drivers often simply do not realize that it is dangerous and illegal to walk on railroad tracks.

Everyone can save a life in their community by sharing the rail safety message. Visit oli.org to take our Rail Safety Pledge and find safety tips to share with your friends and family. Together, we can stop track tragedies - during Rail Safety Week and all year round.

Peggy Smith, board chair, Florida Operation Lifesaver, Regional Manager Community Affairs & Safety, CSX Transportation, Jacksonville

Florida is anything but a free state

Beware of the free state of Florida. Gov. Ron DeSantis is running on a platform of keeping the state of Florida free. Meanwhile, his policies have provided these results: Doctors are being told how to treat patients. Teachers are told what and what not to teach. Women are told what they can and can't do with their bodies.

If you do not live in his Party's dominance, you are subject to redistricting. Voter fraud is only subject to selective enforcement. If kids wear a mask to a press conference, they are ridiculed. If you are an immigrant, you are subject to be transported to another state (these are human beings with children). If you disagree with any policy, you are subject to repercussion.

Calling this a free state is like calling people that attempt a coup patriots

Mike Stringer, Eagle Lake

What’s your number?

What’s your number? According to the latest statistics, there have been 80,564 COVID deaths in Florida. Is that higher than you expected?  Or lower? What number are you comfortable with?  Early in the pandemic, then-President Donald Trump stated that if there were no more than 50,000 deaths in the entire nation, that would be an indication that his administration had done a good job. Of course, we blew past that number and have now reached approximately 1,050,000 deaths; and the rate is still about 400 per day. Florida alone exceeded Trump’s early number.

Florida’s per capita COVID death rate must be less, right, because we did such a good job? Let’s see, among the most populous states, the per capita COVID death rates are: California is 2.4 deaths per 1000; Texas is 3.2; New York is 3.6; and Florida is 3.8.  We’re the worst! The average for the entire U.S. is 3.2.

And it was not because of misdiagnoses - more total deaths occurred than usual. In fact, life expectancy in the U.S. dropped a total of 2.7 years during 2020 and 2021, the largest two-year drop in a century, in the wake of the Spanish Flu.

David Carrier, Lakeland

Join the discussion

The Ledger encourages its readers to share their opinions through letters to the editor. Submit your letter by clicking here, or send it to voice@theledger.com. Include your name, street address, a phone number and an email address. Only your name and city of residence will be printed. Letters are limited to 200 words or less and are subject to editing.

This article originally appeared on The Ledger: Voice of the people: See tracks? Think train!