Kids in Louisiana Lay Across Railroad Tracks

(Walker, Louisiana) - Kids in one Louisiana community must be bored because they are now putting themselves in danger.

As kids, we all did things that left our parents scratching their heads and lecturing us never to do it again, and I hope some parents in Walker are having a stern conversation with their kids after they put their own lives in danger.

According to WBRZ, police were called to North Corbin and Florida Boulevard after a train was forced to stop abruptly. The train conductor noticed something ahead on the tracks: kids lying on them.

Yes, kids risked their lives by lying across the railroad tracks as a train approached, forcing it to stop abruptly. Police say the kids thought it would be funny to force the train to stop, but did not consider the danger they were putting themselves in.

The incident remains under investigation, and like many, we're just glad we are not reporting a fatality in this story.

How Long Does It Take A Train to Stop

Steel wheels on a train make it very difficult to stop abruptly, and the heavier the train is, the longer it takes to stop.

Simple physics also suggests that a train's weight can affect how quickly it stops on the tracks. For example, a freight train travelling at 55 mph may need a mile or more to come to a complete stop. A light rail train needs up to 600 feet to stop.

With this information, you can see that lying across a railroad track is EXTREMELY dangerous, and parents who live near tracks should educate their kids about the dangers of being on or near them.