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Railroad trespassing fatalities in the U.S. reach 10-year high


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#1 CNJRoss

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Posted 16 March 2018 - 08:16 AM

NBC news 3/11/18:

 
Railroad trespassing fatalities in the U.S. reach 10-year high

 

 

 

In early November last year, an Amtrak train operator found a body on the tracks outside Baltimore who authorities later identified as YouTube star James “Stobe the Hobo” Stobie.

 

Stobie was known for sharing his travel stories and love for hopping freight trains in videos posted online. But after years of insights from the road, the former Coast Guard member appeared to have died while riding the rails that he loved so much.

 

According to data maintained by the Federal Rail Administration released last week, it seems that Stobe was far from alone in 2017.

 

The FRA data concluded that train deaths have grown steadily in the past 10 years, peaking in 2017. The federal agency said that 888 people died due to train-related incidents last year, and 575 of them were considered trespassers, like Stobe.

 

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#2 CNJRoss

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Posted 21 March 2018 - 07:21 AM

Chicago Transportation Journal, 3/20/18:

 
Rail summit topic: death on the tracks

 

 

What can be done about death on the tracks? While the number of fatalities from vehicle/train collisions at crossings has dropped significantly in recent decades, deaths involving trespassers on railroad tracks, including people who attempt to commit suicide by train, have risen.

 

Railroad safety advocates, industry representatives and other officials will meet in Chicago on Thursday, March 22, for a summit on ways to reduce trespass incidents and lower risks at grade crossings.

 

The session is being organized by the Illinois Commerce Commission, which oversees rail transportation in the state, and is intended to give commission members feedback on options to improve safety, according to Michael Stead, ICC’s rail program administrator.

 

“We hope that this will be a great opportunity to educate the commission on the issues,” Stead said.

 

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#3 CNJRoss

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Posted 24 March 2018 - 08:37 AM

Operation Lifesaver, Inc news release:

Operation Lifesaver, Inc. concerned by rise in 2017 crossing collisions, trespass incidents

 

 

WASHINGTON, DC, March 15, 2018 — Recently-released U.S. government statistics reveal that railroad grade crossing incidents and rail trespass casualties increased in 2017, according to rail safety education nonprofit Operation Lifesaver, Inc.

 

Interim OLI President Wende Corcoran cited Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) statistics that show U.S. crossing collisions rose 3.1 percent, crossing deaths increased 7.4 percent and crossing injuries decreased 4.3 percent from 2016 to 2017. Total casualties (deaths and injuries) from rail trespassing climbed 13.3 percent in 2017; trespass deaths grew 22.3 percent and trespass injuries increased 4.6 percent from their levels in 2016.

 

Preliminary U.S. Rail Crossing and Trespass Statistics, 2017 vs. 2016

Source: Federal Railroad Administration Office of Safety Analysis [http://safetydata.fra.dot.gov/OfficeofSafety/default.aspx]

 

Year            Crossing      Crossing     Crossing         Year      Trespass Casualties     Trespass      Trespass

                    Collisions     Deaths        Injuries                         (Deaths + Injuries)         Deaths          Injuries

 

2016               2,041             255             843               2016               953                            470                483 

2017              2,105            274            807              2017            1,080                         575               505

 

% Change        +3.1             +7.4            -4.3             %  Change       +13/3                        +22.3            +4.6

 

 

“We are very concerned about the increase in crossing incidents and deaths, and alarmed by the sharp rise in trespass deaths,” said Corcoran. “We will be focusing public attention on these issues during Rail Safety Week, September 23-29, in the U.S. and Canada. Throughout the year, Operation Lifesaver state programs continue to work closely with the FRA and our safety partners at freight, passenger and commuter railroads and in communities across the country to help people stay safe near tracks and trains,” she stated.

 

“Increasing public awareness is absolutely paramount to helping people make better decisions around railroad grade crossings and tracks,” said FRA Administrator Ronald L. Batory. “The Federal Railroad Administration, in conjunction with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, has re-launched our national ‘Stop. Trains Can’t.’ campaign to further educate people about the dangers of grade crossings and to reach key, at-risk demographics. The Department of Transportation is unwavering, deliberate, and committed to this important issue.”

 

For 2017, the rail trespass casualty rate (deaths and injuries per million train-miles) was 1.55, its highest level in the last decade, and the highway-rail incident rate (incidents per million train-miles) was 3.01, an increase from 2016, according to FRA preliminary statistics.

 

States with the most crossing collisions in 2017 were Texas, California, Illinois, Florida and Georgia. States with the most trespasser casualties (deaths and injuries combined) in 2017 were California, Texas, Florida, Pennsylvania and Illinois.

 






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