New MTA Program With Waze App Aims To Keep Cars Off Train Tracks
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- The MTA is teaming up the navigation app Waze in an effort to better alert drivers to train crossings.
Starting Thursday, commuters are able to get alerts at 10 Long Island Rail Road stations under a new pilot program.
Approaching the LIRR crossing on Main Street in Farmingdale, the tracks now appear as a hazard on Waze. When you click on the icon, users will see "Hazard on road" with the message "Railroad crossing: Do not turn on to tracks - LIRR."
"I think it's great. I think they should be able to tell you where the train tracks are so you're not going on there," said New Hyde Park resident Christine Nicastro.
The goal is to avoid a situation like one that happened back in March when a driver, following her GPS, mistakenly turned onto LIRR tracks in Mineola.
The driver managed to escape unhurt, but the car erupted into a fireball of flames.
"We have seen an uptick in what we believe is GPS confusion," said MTA Chief Safety Officer David Mayer.
Officials say GPS confusion has prompted a major safety overall. Twenty-one times so far this year, cars have turned onto tracks, a 133 percent increase over last year, CBS2's Janelle Burrell reported.
"Motorists are driving and trying to follow instructions that say, 'turn right ahead' and when they see an interruption in the white edge line, they inadvertently turn down the tracks," said Mayer.
The railroad is also fast-tracking safety upgrades on Long Island at nearly 300 crossings instead of the 20 originally planned.
Solid white stripes are being extended through the crossings and flexible posts are being added as visual cues to drivers.
While some think the new app alert will help, others are skeptical.
"As a licensed driver, you need to be paying enough attention to be on the road, to know what you're doing. That's my opinion," said driver Chris Pisciotta. "Otherwise, maybe, you shouldn't be having a license."
CBS2's crew drove over the rail crossings seven times, but only once got an audio alert warning them of the danger because of the tracks ahead.
Eventually, all 296 LIRR crossings will be live on the Waze app. The MTA hopes to start a similar program with Metro-North.
For more information about the program, click here.
