Railroads

• In 2004, at least 368 people were killed and 1,071 were seriously injured in 3,050 highway-rail grade crossing collisions (combined for public and private crossings).
• At least 483 people were killed and 398 were injured while trespassing on railroad rights-of-way and property.
• In the United States of America, approximately every two hours either a vehicle or a pedestrian is struck by a train. That’s 12 tragic incidents each day.
• A motorist is 20 times more likely to die in a crash involving a train than in a collision involving another motor vehicle. (Based on U.S. Department of Transportation (U.S. DOT) statistics from National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Federal Railroad Administration.)
• There are approximately 241,500 public, private and pedestrian at-grade highway-rail crossings in the United States. (A total of 147,000 are public crossings; 94,500 are private crossings.)
• More people die in highway-rail grade crossing crashes and railroad trespassing incidents in the United States each year than in all commercial and general aviation crashes combined. (Based on U.S. DOT statistics)
• Nearly 50 percent of vehicle/train collisions occur at crossings with active warning devices (gates, lights, bells).
• Three out of four crashes occur within 25 miles of the motorist’s home. Fifty percent of all crashes occur within five miles of home. (Based on NHTSA statistics.)
• Trains CANNOT stop quickly.
• Average freight train stopping distance:
  • 55 mph = a mile or more or at least 18 football fields!
  • 8-car passenger train stopping distance:
    
  • 79 mph = a mile or more or at least 18 football fields!
• Nearly half of all highway-rail crashes occur when the train is traveling less than 30 mph.
• Railroad tracks, trestles, yards and equipment are private property. Walking or playing on them is illegal – trespassers are subject to arrest and fines. Too often the penalty is death.

* Source: U.S. DOT Federal Railroad Administration unless otherwise indicated.

< Back