Following another crash involving a car and train, Maitland police are stepping up patrols at railroad crossings and intersections.

Officers will be at various locations for the next month, watching closely. They said they are ramping up patrols because the problem has gotten so bad, with drivers constantly risking their lives to cross the tracks.

Last Wednesday, it was a close call for one woman who thought she could beat the SunRail train at Maitland and Horatio avenues, but got hit.

Investigators said the alarms were working and safety arms lowered when she collided with a train. The woman was not injured, but the car was badly damaged and trains were delayed for about an hour.

In May 2014, another crash happened about a block away, when a woman with a new stick shift car stalled on the tracks. She was able to get out of the car in time, but was injured from debris from the collision.

Incidents like these that have Maitland police and Florida Department of Transportation officials wanting drivers to have a heightened sense of awareness when approaching railroad crossings.

“The whole thing is about education,” said FDOT spokeswoman Jessica Keane. “Making people aware of crossings and being extra alert when going through crossings. So, it’s important for people to pay attention to the signals, the gates.”

Another good reason to follow the law: Crossing the tracks under a railroad barricade comes with a $164 fine.

For safety, FDOT suggests looking in both directions for trains, like you would look for cars when crossing a street.

“Even pedestrians, pay close attention to when you’re crossing,” said Keane. “Don’t look just for one train, look for two trains. Don’t walk with earbuds. Make sure you’re able to hear the train if there was to come…so avoid distractions and just be safe and alert.”

Railroad crossing safety tips for drivers

Here are some driving safety tips provided by the Maitland Police Department:

  • Trains and cars don't mix. Never race a train to the crossing — even if you tie, you lose.
  • The train you see is closer and faster-moving than you think. If you see a train approaching, wait for it to go by before you proceed across the tracks.
  • Be aware that trains cannot stop quickly. Even if the locomotive engineer sees you, a freight train moving at 55 mph can take a mile or more to stop once the emergency brakes are applied. That's 18 football fields.
  • Never drive around lowered gates — it's illegal and deadly. If you suspect a signal is malfunctioning, call the number posted on or near the crossing signal or contact your local law enforcement agency.
  • Do not get trapped on the tracks. Proceed through a highway-rail grade crossing only if you are sure you can completely clear the crossing without stopping. Remember, the train is 3 feet wider than the tracks on both sides.
  • If your vehicle ever stalls on a track with a train coming, get out immediately and move quickly away from the tracks in the direction from which the train is coming. If you run in the same direction the train is traveling, when the train hits your car, you could be injured by flying debris. Call your local law enforcement agency for assistance.
  • At a multiple track crossing waiting for a train to pass, watch out for a second train on the other tracks approaching from either direction.
  • When you need to cross train tracks, go to a designated crossing, look both ways and cross the tracks quickly without stopping. Remember, it isn't safe to stop closer than 15 feet from a rail.