Chicago and suburban police will increase patrols at railroad crossings Thursday as part of a global safety effort.
Officers will issue more tickets to drivers and pedestrians who ignore rail crossing protections.
Forty-five countries are taking part in International Level Crossing Awareness Day aimed at preventing deaths and injuries at rail crossings.
The heightened enforcement will take place locally in Chicago, Bensenville, Elgin, Tinley Park, Oak Lawn, Mount Prospect, Des Plaines, Woodstock, Cary, Crystal Lake and Arlington Heights.
On May 14, a driver was killed when he violated the crossing gates and a speeding Metra train collided with his truck, derailing the train and injuring a number of passengers.
On Monday, Metra Union Pacific/West Line train No. 68 collided with a semi truck in West Chicago. The cause of the incident is not known.
