The handbook provides general information on highwayrail crossings, characteristics of the crossing environment and users, and physical and operational changes that can be made at crossings to enhance the safety and operation of both highway and rail traffic at crossings. Railroad grade crossing safety, pedestrian safety, commuter. Welcome to the fra office of safety analysis web site. Railroad safety tips for drivers be alert near railroad crossings and stop for approaching trains. Shifting gears with a manual transmission while going across this raised surface may cause the vehicle to stall on the tracks. Always remember to look and listen when you see the warning signs indicating a highway rail crossing ahead. Shortcuts can result in serious injuries and fatalities. What are these tips you should always remember to follow to stay safe. Publicrail safety guide operation lifesaver canada. Always obey signs, gates, lights, bells, and other safety equipment. The railwayhighway crossings section program provides funds for the elimination of hazards at railwayhighway crossings. Railroad crossing safety for emergency responders cdc. Prevention there are many simple and lifesaving practices to help you avoid a confrontation with a train at a railroad crossing. Railroad crossing safety charlotte, north carolina.
Rail safety california public utilities commission. Dont start crossing a track if you cant get all the way across. It is never okay to rush across and try to beat the train. If crossing warning signals or gates are broken, malfunctioning or need maintenance, contact. Amtrak police and operation lifesaver mobilize largest railroad safety operation in u. Public highwayrailway crossings are marked with signs, and. Pursuant to a congressional request, gao examined federal efforts to improve railroad crossing safety, focusing on. Highwayrailroad grade crossing safety is an integral part of bnsfs operation and culture and involves the daily cooperative efforts of many employees. When crossing train tracks, go to a designated crossing and look both ways. The highwayrail crossing handbook, third edition is an information resource on prevalent and noteworthy practices as well as adopted standards relative to highwayrail grade crossings. The railroad safety improvement act of 2008 contained the.
Parents, dont forget to check out our driver education materials as well to discuss important railroad safety tips with teenage children. Attention first responders, you can download a pdf of the railroad resources safety booklet below. These tracks run throughout major cities and small towns, linking destinations and improving mobility for residents. Never race a train to the crossing even if you tie, you lose. This web site provides a compendium of highwayrail grade crossing safety information for drivers, motor carriers, and users of commercial motor vehicles.
Railroad crossing safety tips many drivers pay little or no attention at highwayrail crossings they drive across day after day because they never see a train there. Ncshp revs up safety campaign for railroad crossings. We are handing out these safety cards until those numbers are at zero. Never drive around lowered gates its illegal and deadly.
Driving around lowered gates is illegal and deadly. Always preplan movements to identify potential hazards. Wait for traffic on the other side to clear before beginning your crossing. Designated crossings are marked by a sign, lights or a gate. Highwayrail grade crossing safety saving lives one of the initiatives the federal motor carrier safety administration is undertaking to save lives on the nations highways is to intensify our focus on highwayrail grade crossing safety. Fras office of railroad safety promotes and regulates safety throughout the nations railroad industry. Information at rail crossings in drivers education.
Aar full members include the major freight railroads in the united states, canada and mexico, as well as amtrak. If lights are flashing or the gate is down at a railroad crossing, wait. Nov 14, 2016 safety tip highway grade crossing safety november 14, 2016 november 14, 2016 by ashley a highwayrail grade crossing is a location where a public or private road, street, sidewalk or pathway, intersects railroad tracks at the same level. Ppt railroad safety powerpoint presentation free to view. The purpose of this site is to make railroad safety information including accidents and incidents, inventory and highwayrail crossing data readily available to the public. This oversight can be broken down into three areas. Mar 06, 2017 this comprehensive railroad crossing video covers the different types of crossings bus drivers may encounter. Apr 2, 2020 tips for crossing train tracks safety, whether in a car or on foot. Grade crossing protective fund grants gcpf funds are now available for the 20192021 biennium.
Statement of safety policy it is union pacific railroads policy to conduct its business in a manner that addresses the safety of employees, contractors, customers and the communities we serve. In june 2009, five teenagers were killed in a tragic accident in detroit when their car was hit by a passenger train. The only safe place to cross is at a designated public crossing with either a crossbuck, flashing red lights, or a gate. Railroad crossing safety safety tips further details at operation lifesaver. Were spreading the message about train safety and need your help. Pedestrians and transit safety federal highway administration. Never begin to drive across the tracks unless you can get all the way across. Railroad crossing safety in charlotte, trains operate daily crossing city streets. Never stop your vehicle on a grade crossing waiting for traffic to move. Rail crossing safety its no place for risky business 2019 rail crossing safety. Union pacific will strive to prevent all incidents, accidents, injuries and occupational. Remember, trains can come from either direction at any time.
Railroad crossing signal installations and signal upgrades primarily are funded by federal safety funds, originally through section funding, but more recently. The related documents provide pdf and printready files for the english, spanish, and. Railroad safety fra federal railroad administration. It is important for motorists and pedestrians to be cautious while approaching a railroad crossing or track. The oregon department of transportation rail and public transit division oversees oregon rail operations to ensure the structural safety of railroad cars, equipment, track, crossings, and signals and to maintain a safe environment for railroad employees. We also encourage you to utilize the material in our teachers section, which includes fact sheets, matching games, coloring pages, quizzes and our new railroad safety fun sheet to.
Every 3 hours, a person is hit by a train in the u. Many drivers pay little or no attention at highwayrail crossings they drive across. Prevention there are many simple and lifesaving practices to help. The north carolina department of transportation ncdot recommends the following tips for motorists at railroad crossings. A train can extend three feet or more beyond the steel rail, putting the safety zone for pedestrians well beyond the three foot mark. If there are rails on the railroad ties, always assume the track is in use, even if there are weeds or the track looks unused. Apr 24, 2009 a short video about railroad crossing safety, from the eyes of a retired railroader, who believes in promoting safety awareness. A highway rail grade crossing is a location where a public or private road, street, sidewalk or pathway, intersects railroad tracks at the same level. These safety tips and other railroad safety information available through operation lifesaver can help you stay safe around pennsylvanias railroads. Have you ever been at a railroad crossing with the warning lights. Highwayrailroad grade crossing safety is an integral part of bnsfs operation and culture and involves.
Following the ten safety tips listed below can help prevent vehicletrain. As part of our mission to reduce deaths and injuries at highwayrail grade crossings and around tracks and trains, operation lifesaver, inc. According to operation lifesaver, a national nonprofit organization, nearly 2,000 americans are killed and injured at highwayrail grade crossings each year. Railroad crossing safety factsheet texas department of insurance. If the lights are flashing or the gate is down, wait for the train to pass completely before crossing. Rail safety the cpuc is the state agency that oversees rail safety in california. There are more than 1,000 miles of light and commuter railroad tracks and 2,400 miles of freight railroad tracks crisscrossing new jersey. While most current standards and requirements for railroad atgrade warning systems are tailored to motor vehicle traffic, the federal highway administrations railroad highway grade crossing handbook 44 provides guidance about pedestrian crossings. In reality, the process is governed by a federal program since crossing signals are defined by the federal highway administration as highway control devices, not railroad signals. Those who drive for a living must practice crossing safety.
The office executes its regulatory and inspection responsibilities through a diverse staff of railroad safety experts. Rail safety tips and facts wa utc access washington. Uses stopmotion photography to illustrate the seven most common driving errors at rail crossings and shows how to avoid these errors. Six tips for driving through a railroad crossing driver safety. Overview of bnsfs approach to grade crossing safety.
Trains cannot stop quickly enough to avoid a collision. Keep yourself safe at train crossings by remembering these tips. New jersey safety along railroads shortterm action plan. Never drive or walk around lowered grade crossing gates. Railroad tracks, trestles, yards and equipment are private property and trespassers are subject to arrest and fine. Allow enough space for your vehicle to completely clear the entire railroad crossing, not just the tracks, before you attempt to cross. Railroad crossing education and enforcement programs. It is a one stop shop for readers who want to learn more about the critical importance of rail grade crossing safety. Before crossing, roll down windows, turn off siren and radio, and listen for train horn. A train traveling at 41 mph covers 660 feetin 11 seconds, which is as far up the tracks as the truck driver can see.
See more ideas about safety tips, train tracks and train. Railroad crossing safety tips posted on october 22, 2010 by defensive driving team in defensive driving online. Since the programs inception in 1987 through 2014, for which most recent data is available. Slow down when approaching a railroad crossing and look both waystwice.
Crossing safety overview of bnsfs approach to grade crossing safety highwayrailroad grade crossing safety is an integral part of bnsfs operation and culture and involves the daily cooperative efforts of many employees. Operation lifesaver is an international safety program designed to prevent railrelated collisions through educational. Last year there were 12 fatalities and 24 injuries at crossings throughout the state. The section program has been correlated with a significant decrease in fatalities at railwayhighway grade crossings. Grade crossing safety tips never drive or walk around lowered grade crossing gates. Also, goes over signs and road markings, safe railroad crossing procedures,special. Because oncoming trains cannot stop for vehicles whose drivers violate motor vehicle laws when approaching railroad tracks. Many drivers pay little or no attention at highway rail crossings they drive across day after day because they never see a train there.