Train Accident Newsroom

Highway Rail Grade Crossing Safety

Police should not overlook intervening variables in traffic safety that can be affected directly or indirectly by the private sector. For instance, railroads maintain private roadbeds that intersect more than 160,000 public highways in the United States. More than 5,000 collisions occur at these intersections each year, resulting in almost 600 fatalities and 1,800 injuries. A motor vehicle/train collision is many times more likely to produce fatalities than a roadway collision.

Highway-rail grade crossing traffic enforcement should be given every consideration in the aggressive pursuit of traffic safety. Collisions that occur at these intersections usually are a result of motorist inattention or impatience, which is especially apparent after observing motorist behavior at these crossings.

Law Enforcement Liaison with Private Sector Traffic Safety Programs The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), using data provided by United States railroads, maintain a detailed analysis that may prove beneficial to police when conducting safety studies within their communities. By using this data in conjunction with programs offered by the private sector, agencies can implement effective enforcement strategies. Such programs are supported by federal and state funds, such as the OOT (Officer on the Train) and GCCI (Grade Crossing Collision Investigation) programs for police.

OOT is a highway-railroad grade crossing safety awareness program coordinated through a national railroad safety program, Operation Lifesaver, which places police officers aboard trains to radio traffic violations to other officers strategically located at or near grade crossings. The selection of these sites are based on previous collisions and traffic violations.

The GCCI course is a highway-railroad grade crossing safety awareness program coordinated through the Operation Lifesaver program. Tailored to specific law enforcement agency needs, the course usually lasts one to three days and is provided at no cost to the agency.