Railroad Crossing Safety
There are a number of non profit and private organizations that have been developed to foster railroad crossing safety education. Each one of these is commendable for their dedication to driver safety and safer railroad crossings.
Operation Lifesaver
Operation Lifesaver is a national, non-profit public information program dedicated to safety at highway-rail crossings and railroad rights of way. Operation Lifesaver programs are sponsored by federal, state, and local government agencies; highway safety organizations; and the railroad companies with the mission and goal of ending collisions, deaths, and injuries at places where roadways cross train tracks, and on railroad rights-of-way.
Operation Lifesaver works with local law enforcement agencies to help increase motorists' awareness of the law and the railroad industry. Operation Lifesaver offers news reports, educational materials, statistics, safety tips, and safety presentations. Operation Lifesaver's trained and certified volunteer speakers provide free safety presentations for various professions and for all age groups in order to increase public safety around railroad tracks.
Operation Lifesaver focuses on three areas:
- Education - increasing public awareness about the dangers around the rails, and educating both drivers and pedestrians to make safe decisions at crossings and around railroad tracks.
- Enforcement - promoting active enforcement of traffic laws relating to crossing signs and signals and private property laws related to trespassing.
- Engineering - encouraging continued engineering research and innovation to improve the safety of railroad crossings.
National Rail Safety Action Plan
The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) implemented a National Rail Safety Action Plan to improve rail safety. The Action Plan targets the most frequent, highest-risk causes of accidents; increases the use of data to focus the agency's inspection and enforcement resources; and accelerates research and development activities that have the potential to mitigate the largest risks.
The National Rail Safety Action Plan targets the most frequent, highest risk causes of accidents; focuses the FRA's oversight and inspection resources; and accelerates research efforts that have the potential to mitigate the largest risks. The Action Plan identifies and addresses the key safety issues facing the nation's rail industry:
- Reducing Human Factor Accidents
- Addressing Fatigue
- Improving Track Safety
- Improving Hazmat Safety and Emergency Response Capability
- Strengthening FRA Compliance and Enforcement Program
- Further Improving Highway-Rail Grade Crossing Safety
Citizens United for Rail Security
Developed by BNSF Railway Company, the Citizens for Rail Security program allows citizens to help identify suspicious activity on America's railways. BNSF Railway Company recruits rail fans to help report suspicious activities and to help prevent possible security breaches.
The program encourages railfans to enter a small amount of personal information on an official company website. After doing so, the website generates an identification card. Along with the user's personal information, the card contains a list of general guidelines for a railfan to follow while near tracks or moving equipment as well as a toll-free telephone number that can be used to alert a BNSF representative of any suspicious activities or potential security breaches.
Rail State Safety Participation Program
The Rail State Safety Participation Program is comprised of 30 states employing safety inspectors in five rail safety inspection disciplines. State programs emphasize planned, routine compliance inspections, and states may also undertake additional investigative and surveillance activities consistent with their overall needs and capabilities. The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) reimburses states for travel and subsistence expenses associated with rail safety inspector technical training. The training program helps states to develop rail safety programs and enables qualified state inspectors to maintain technical proficiency. Additionally, the FRA routinely provides on-the-job training to state inspector candidates.
Automated Track Inspection Program
The Federal Railroad Administration's (FRA) Office of Safety Assurance and Compliance has developed the Automated Track Inspection Program (ATIP) to assist in inspecting, monitoring, and directing safety improvements. The primary safety-related use of ATIP is the assistance provided to FRA inspectors in identifying the most important track locations and conditions for them to evaluate.
The FRA relies on ATIP data as a primary tool for headquarter and regional managers to:
- Monitor and assess railroad compliance with the Federal Track Safety Standards
- Evaluate - an early indicator of the safety trends within the industry
- Create a centralized track data management system archive to support special safety studies
These organizations are all admirable for their efforts to ensure railroad crossings are as safe as possible. Inevitably, railroaders and everyday people are injured in railyard & train accidents. Whether you are in need of a FELA lawyer or a railroad crossing accident lawyer, contact the law firm of Davis, Bethune and Jones in Kansas City for nationwide RR litigation.
