“Stop! Trains Can’t” – 15 Most Dangerous US R.R. Crossings (Video)

The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has launched the “Stop! Trains Can’t” ad campaign targeting young male motorists and encouraging them to act cautiously at railroad crossings.

The campaign is the latest in a two-year effort by DOT to reduce accidents and fatalities at railroad crossings around the country. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) have partnered in the nationwide effort.

(See video, courtesy of the Federal Railroad Administration and YouTube)

“The message is simple: Ignoring railroad crossing signs or attempting to race or beat a train can have deadly consequences,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx.

Anthony Foxx DOT
U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx

“Hundreds of lives could be saved each year by simply following the rules.”

Although rail incidents have declined over the last 10 years, railroad crossing fatalities spiked in 2014. Last year alone, 232 people died in railroad crossing accidents, and approximately every three hours, a person or vehicle is hit by a train in the United States.

The $7 million media buy will target male populations aged 18 to 49 years old in states with the nation’s 15 most dangerous crossings, as well as in states where 75 percent of the crossing accidents occurred in 2015. Male drivers are involved in nearly 75 percent of all railroad crossing accidents.

The ad will run heavily in the following states: California, Illinois, Texas, Louisiana, Indiana, Ohio, Florida, Georgia, Missouri, New York, North Carolina, South Carolina, Kentucky, Alabama, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Mississippi, New Jersey, Arkansas and Arizona.

“Your life is worth more than a few saved minutes, and trying to outrun a train isn’t worth the risk,” said NHTSA Administrator Dr. Mark Rosekind.

“When a train is coming, the only choice is to stop. Trains can’t.”

Sarah E. Feinberg, FRA Administrator
Sarah E. Feinberg, FRA Administrator

By law, trains always have the right of way because they cannot swerve, stop quickly, or change directions to avert collisions. A freight train travelling at 55 miles per hour takes a mile – the length of 18 football fields or more – to come to a stop once the emergency brakes are applied.

“Education is key here – sometimes a driver is distracted, or in an unfamiliar area. Other times, the state highway department has not done enough to warn drivers they are approaching a crossing,” said FRA Administrator Sarah E. Feinberg.

“We must do everything we can to give drivers the information they need to keep themselves and their families safe – and this ad helps us do just that.”

Did you know…

About every three hours, a person or vehicle is hit by a train in the U.S.

Most, if not all, of these accidents can be prevented.

How can you help prevent these accidents?

Chart of preventative actions: AS A MOTORIST Be prepared to stop at the crossing Slow down, look both ways, and listen Understand the signs and warning devices Check that you have enough room on the other side of the tracks for your vehicle to cross safely Never race a train Never stop on tracks PDF  As a Motorist  AS A PEDESTRIAN Stay alert—it is easy to get distracted, especially by phones, music, and conversation Stop, look both ways, and listen Follow all signs and instructions Cross tracks only at designated pedestrian or roadway crossings Cross quickly, never stop on the tracks Cross at a 90° angle if crossing with a bike, stroller, or wheelchair, as your wheels can become stuck  PDF  As a Pedestrian     AT A PASSIVE CROSSING (without active warning devices) Be extra cautious as passive crossings do not have flashing lights and gates Be prepared to stop at the crossing Slow down, look both  ways, and listen Understand the signs Never race a train Never stop on tracks PDF At a Passive Crossing

By the Numbers: Railroad Crossing Safety

U.S. Department  of Transportation  Federal Railroad Administration   Railroad Crossing Safety and Trespass Prevention  	 December 2015  96% Combined, railroad crossing and trespasser deaths account for approximately 96 percent of all rail-related deaths. About every 3 hours, a person or vehicle is hit by a train. Safety Trends Although rail incidents have been in decline… -24 %  In the past 10 years fatalities at U.S. crossings have declined substantially.  -33 % Similarly, over the same 10 year period, trespassing fatalities have also declined.  2014 saw Railroad Crossing fatalities increase… In 2014 there were approximately 270 fatalities at railroad crossings, an increase of 40 from the previous year.  And a similar increase in trespasser fatalities. In 2014 there were approximately 480 trespasser fatalities at railroad tracks, an increase of 50 from the previous year.  = 10 fatalities Crossings in the U.S. 64%                           36%  Roughly two-thirds of public crossings are active (include gates, bells, and/or flashing lights) while the other one third are passive (include signs and markings, but do not include active warning devices). Always expect a train on any track at anytime. The U.S. Railroad System  750 Railroads  140,000 Miles of track  212,000 Railroad crossings  67% More than two-thirds of railroad crossing accidents occur in clear weather conditions  Trains cannot stop quickly! A train traveling at 55 MPH takes a mile or more to stop!  For more information on rail safety, visit our Statistics page under the Railroad Crossing Safety tab.

What FRA is doing to improve railroad crossing safety

  • Partnering with tech companies to add alerts of upcoming railroad crossings to map applications
  • Testing intrusion detection technology to provide advanced warning to trains of a vehicle on tracks
  • Working to develop information sharing to identify and target trouble spots
  • Awarding nearly $10 million to help communities upgrade crossings where crude oil and energy products are transported
  • Awarding $25 million for states to upgrade crossings

FRA logo

For more information on the “Stop! Trains Can’t” campaign, visit www.transportation.gov/stop-trains-cant

Did you know… About every three hours, a person or vehicle is hit by a train in the US (Image Credit: YouTube)
Did you know… About every three hours, a person or vehicle is hit by a train in the US (Image Credit: YouTube)

In April, the FRA, in continued efforts to increase safety at railroad crossings, released a list of railroad crossings in the United States where multiple incidents have occurred in recent years.

The list includes 15 crossings where 10 or more incidents have occurred during the last decade

Many of the 15 crossings are at busy, multiple lane intersections in neighborhoods with significant truck traffic or have tracks crossings roadways on a diagonal.

Many crossings close to a traffic intersection also have their warning systems interconnected to traffic lights.

If sequenced and working correctly, these interconnected systems can help prevent vehicles from stopping over railroad tracks where there is limited roadway between the tracks and the nearby intersection.

Crossings with 10 or more incidents during the last decade

Click on the crossing ID for a Google Street View of the crossing.

Crossing ID

CITY

STATE

TOTAL INCIDENTS

TOTAL FATALITIES

TOTAL INJURIES

025617C

Phoenix Arizona

24

0

2

025425K

Phoenix Arizona

21

0

4

025422P

Glendale Arizona

19

0

3

330578C

Ashdown Arkansas

16

4

4

025430G

Phoenix Arizona

15

0

4

263164S

Elmwood Park New Jersey

14

1

4

879204S

Muncie Indiana

14

0

3

303227G

Baton Rouge Louisiana

13

0

0

351290D

Evergreen Alabama

13

5

1

340137G

Pascagoula Mississippi

12

0

7

524223P

Cleveland Ohio

12

0

1

025590V

Glendale Arizona

10

0

1

637698V

Waycross Georgia

10

0

1

663401F

Memphis Tennessee

10

2

4

755627X

Houston Texas

10

0

2

DOT
 For more information, please visit https://www.transportation.gov/.