FRA 08-04
Contact: Steve Kulm or Warren Flatau
      Tel.: (202) 493-6024
Tuesday, June 15, 2004

U.S. Department of Transportation Issues Action Plan to Prevent
Train-Vehicle Collisions and Pedestrian Deaths

Promoting enhanced enforcement and closing unneeded crossings are among the action objectives highlighted in a U.S. Department of Transportation blueprint for reducing railroad-related casualties. The Secretary’s Action Plan for Highway-Rail Crossing Safety and Trespass Prevention will guide efforts by federal, state, industry and rail safety organizations to reduce train-vehicle collisions and trespass incidents.

“This plan will improve grade crossing safety and discourage people from walking on railroad property, the leading causes of rail deaths in America,” Transportation Secretary Norman Y. Mineta said.

The Action Plan is a comprehensive update of the Department’s original plan issued in 1994. Experience since that time has showed that highway-rail crossing deaths can be reduced through partnerships among federal, state, industry and rail safety organizations like Operation Lifesaver, Inc.

The 2004 Action Plan will enhance these partnerships by helping direct resources and focusing attention on establishing responsibility for safety at private crossings; advancing engineering standards and promoting new technology; expanding educational outreach and public education efforts; promoting enhanced enforcement of existing traffic safety laws; closing unneeded crossings and limiting the creation of new ones; improving data quality, analysis, and targeted research; completing deployment and implementation of emergency notification systems; issuing safety standards that bring about tangible improvements and; evaluating the effectiveness of current efforts and promoting best practices.

People walking or playing on, near or along railroad tracks and equipment, and collisions at highway-rail grade crossings account for 96 percent of rail-related deaths in the U.S. In 2003, 324 people were killed in motor vehicles collisions with trains at grade crossings and over 500 people died after being hit by trains. Currently, a train strikes someone nearly every three hours in the United States.

“These deaths and injuries are unacceptable, especially since many are avoidable,” said FRA Administrator Allan Rutter. “This Action Plan is a roadmap that will lead to further reductions in what are too often, tragic preventable events.”

While the plan does highlight specific programs and activities, it is intended to provide flexibility to the railroad and highway safety communities in responding effectively to real world conditions. The Action Plan, like its predecessor, emphasizes a multi-faceted, multi-modal approach for improving safety at the nation’s 252,000 highway-rail crossings, and preventing trespassing along its more than 145,000 miles of track.

A steering committee comprised of representatives of the nation’s railroads, rail labor, state and local agencies, Operation Lifesaver, Inc., academia, and other public safety organizations worked together to create the Action Plan.

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