The Many Police Department is urging parents and guardians to talk with their children about the dangers of playing on or near train tracks.

According to officials, trains require significant distance to come to a complete stop — in some cases, up to a mile, even after impact. This means that by the time a train’s engineer sees someone on the tracks, it may already be too late to avoid a tragedy.

Authorities stress that railways are not safe places to walk, play, or take shortcuts, and trespassing on railroad property is not only dangerous but also illegal.

“Children often underestimate how quickly a train can approach and how long it takes to stop,” the department stated. “We encourage parents to have this conversation to help prevent avoidable accidents.”