VALPARAISO | The heads of the police agencies throughout Porter County gathered Wednesday to be honored for their role and their officers' roles in preventing fatal accidents and injury accidents at railroad crossings.

Larry Hasvold, Federal Railroad Administration regional administrator, presented plaques in recognition of Porter County having no deaths or injuries at grade crossings in 2005 and 2006.

"Obviously, what you're doing you are doing right," Hasvold told police officials.

Hasvold said without police enforcement, motorists are more likely to go around gates or fail to stop at unguarded crossings, increasing the chance one of them will get hit by one of the 256 trains passing through the county each day.

The ceremony was at the Porter County Sheriff's Department. Porter County police spokesman Sgt. Timothy Emmons said the lack of fatalities and injuries "certainly suggests people are more aware of the dangers associated with grade crossings."

Emmons said he has done presentations at schools to warn children of the danger of railroad crossings and the danger of trespassing on railroad property. He said officers have participated in crackdowns on people who go around train gates.

"It's good to see these efforts have paid off," Emmons said.

Emmons reminds motorists that trains often are going faster than it appears, so he warns against going around train gates or ignoring the stop signs at unguarded crossings. He also warns people that at crossings with multiple tracks, even if one train has passed or has stopped, another train could be coming.

"Survival odds are not good if you're struck by a train," Emmons said.

BREAKOUT:

Federal Railroad Administration highway-rail grade crossing accident statistics

2005 2006

Fatalities nationwide 358 366

Fatalities Indiana 21 28

Fatalities Porter Co. 0 0

Injuries nationwide 1,015 1,006

Injuries Indiana 26 13

Injuries Porter Co. 0 0