FRA
07-01
Wednesday, December 19, 2001
Contact: Warren Flatau
Tel.: (202) 493-6024
Federal Railroad Administrator Reminds Americans To Stay Off, Stay Away, and
Stay Alive, Now and In 2002
Federal Railroad Administrator Allan Rutter today urged Americans to exercise caution and common sense when approaching highway-rail grade crossings, and to avoid walking on or near rail rights-of-way. There are more than 253,000 highway-rail grade crossings throughout the country.
During the past week, three teenagers were struck and killed by an Amtrak passenger train while walking along railroad tracks near Morrisville, PA, and seven people were killed when the van they were riding in was struck by a train near Wasco, CA.
“These tragic incidents underscore the need for increased attention and vigilance around railroad tracks and highway-rail crossings,” said Administrator Rutter. “No one would think about strolling across a busy 10-lane interstate highway or driving across a crowded runway, yet too many motorists think they can beat trains by speeding across grade crossings, and too many pedestrians needlessly risk their own lives by walking on railroad tracks.”
Trespass and grade crossing incidents account for 96% of all rail-related fatalities in America. For the first nine months of 2001, there were 384 trespass fatalities, and 306 fatalities at highway-rail grade crossings. During 2000, 463 people died while trespassing on railroad property, and 425 were killed in train-vehicle collisions. Nearly half of all grade crossing collisions occur where properly functioning flashing lights or gates are in place.
In light of the recent fatalities in Pennsylvania and California, FRA will conduct public awareness outreach forums in the affected communities to prevent such tragedies from occurring again. Efforts in southeast Pennsylvania will target primary and secondary school students, parents, and educators, as well as local law enforcement agencies. In central California, FRA will initiate a public education campaign to promote railroad safety awareness in the agricultural community, and among the region’s residents.
The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), part of the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), works continuously to reduce the number of crossing collisions and trespass incidents through effective engineering, education and enforcement programs. FRA is the primary sponsor of Operation Lifesaver, Inc. (OLI), an international, non-profit education and awareness program, which has educated millions of people since 1972 about the dangers at highway-rail crossings and of trespassing. Together, FRA and OLI work daily with railroads, rail labor, states, communities and numerous other stakeholders to prevent needless deaths and injuries. While the number of such incidents has declined dramatically over the past thirty years, nearly 1000 deaths and almost 1500 injuries still occur annually.
FRA 07-01
Rutter added that today’s trains are deceptively quiet and fast and it is difficult to judge their distance and speed. Freight and passenger trains do not necessarily adhere to set schedules, and can approach from any direction, at any time. Whether approaching a grade crossing while driving, or attempting to take a risky shortcut across tracks for the first or thousandth time, you should Always Expect A Train.
Information and statistics about highway-rail grade crossing safety and trespass prevention programs may be found at www.fra.dot.gov and www.oli.org.
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