I though folks were taught from a young age that RR tracks were one of the big dangers in day to day life and should be treated as such and avoided. Has worked for me my whole life.

That used to be referred to as "common sense" and we know there isn't much of that around any more. they have managed to educate that right out of most people.

I suspect the RR right of way extends out from the tracks, in all directions, the number of feet that would contain most RR derailments. That way, the RR isn't responsible for anything damaged in a train derailment. The reason every train incident is investigated immediately is to see of the RR can place the blame on anyone else. Anything other then the RR's direct fault, they can pin the entire expense of the repair or loss of (the track itself, rail cars, property inside the rail cars, crossing damage, personal injury or death, loss of train line use, the cost to reroute trains, and more) to whom or what caused the derailment or train damage.