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U.S.Department of Transportation
Office of Public Affairs
Washington, D.C.
www.dot.gov/affairs/briefing.htm
News |
U.S. Department of Transportation Issues Action Plan to Prevent
Train-Vehicle Collisions and Pedestrian Deaths
Contact: Steven W. Kulm
Telephone: 202-493-6024
Tuesday, June 15, 2004 (Washington, DC) 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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