1. A Discussion of Crossing & Trespasser Incidents, Fatalities and Trespasser Demographics
Ron Ries, FRA Office of Safety

2. Rail-Related Fatalities in 2012 Most recent full year of statistics
“Other” contains Passengers, contractors, etc.
Total 706

3. Trends in Fatalities At Grade Crossings, 1990-2012
Declining trend downward

4. Collisions, Fatalities,
and Exposure
Rail (million train miles) X Hwy Volume (trillion hwy miles)
(=quadrillion)
Orange bars - # collisions X 10
Yellow line - # fatalities
Red line – exposure – quadrillions
Large decrease in collisions & fatalities despite large increase in exposure.
2001 – Hwy traffic = 2,781,462,000,000
- Rail traffic = 711,549,906
- Total exposure = 1979 quadrillion
2002 – Hwy traffic = 2,856,000,000,000 (2002 data)
- Rail traffic = 728,674,146
- Total Exposure = 2081 quadrillion
2003 – Hwy traffic = 2,880,000,000,000 (2003 data)
- Rail traffic = 743,491,689
- Total Exposure = 2141 quadrillion
2004 – Hwy traffic = 2,963 billion (2004 data; ))
- Rail traffic = 770,258,319
- Total Exposure = 2282 quadrillion
2005 – Hwy traffic = 2,965 billion (2005 data; ))
- Rail traffic = 790,491,238
- Total Exposure = 2344 quadrillion
2006 – Hwy traffic = 3,014 billion (2006 data;
- Rail traffic = 809,044,888
- Total Exposure = 2438 quadrillion
2007 – Hwy traffic = 3031 billion (2007 data;
as of 3/20/12
- Rail traffic = 789,173,575
- Total exposure = 2392 quadrillion
2008 – Hwy traffic = 2978 billion (2008 data on 3/20/12)
- Rail traffic = 772,938,810
- Total exposure =2302 quadrillion
2009 – Hwy traffic = 2953 billion (2009 data on 3/20/12)
- Rail traffic = 671,946,8061
- Total exposure = 1984 quadrillion
2010 – Hwy traffic = 2953 billion (2009 data on 3/20/12)
- Rail traffic = 708,194,101
- Total exposure = 2091 quadrillion
2011 – Hwy traffic = 2953 billion (2009 data on 3/20/12)
- Rail traffic = 720,503,904
- Total exposure = 2129 quadrillion
2012 – Hwy traffic = 2946 (2011 data on 4/12/13)
- Rail traffic = 740,164,597
- Total exposure = 2180 quadrillion
Fatalities
Collisions X 10

5. Where Collisions Occur 2012 (Public GX)
Device
% Collisions
% Xings (07)
Gates
44.4%
34.4%
Flashing Lights
15.9%
15.5%
STOP Signs
11.9%
9.0%
Crossbucks
24.6%
35.7%
Other
3.2%
5.4%
Chart shows the distribution of collisions at the various types of public crossings during the last 3 years.
Active warning devices (48.3% of collisions and 39.5% of crossings)
Gated – driver must willingly drive around gates
Flashing lights – Driver provided a warning – knows to stop – but then driver has to make a decision as the flashers are interpreted as stop and proceed when safe (like a STOP sign). Requires education.
Passive devices - (47.7% of collisions and 53.5% of crossings)
Requires driver perception and decision. Determine if a train is present and then decide what to do.

6. Numbers of Crossings As of November 2013
Crossing Type
How Many
% of Total
Total
250,552
100.0
Public at grade
129,603
51.7
Private at grade
80,404
32.1
Pedestrian at grade
2,157
0.9
Grade Separated (all)
38,388
15.3
Chart shows the distribution of collisions at the various types of public crossings during the last 3 years.
Active warning devices (48.3% of collisions and 39.5% of crossings)
Gated – driver must willingly drive around gates
Flashing lights – Driver provided a warning – knows to stop – but then driver has to make a decision as the flashers are interpreted as stop and proceed when safe (like a STOP sign). Requires education.
Passive devices - (47.7% of collisions and 53.5% of crossings)
Requires driver perception and decision. Determine if a train is present and then decide what to do.

7. Numbers of At-Grade Crossings
As of November 2013
Crossing Type
How Many
% of Total
Total at grade
212,164
100.0
Public at grade
129,603
61.1
Private at grade
80,404
37.9
Pedestrian at grade
2,157
1.0
Chart shows the distribution of collisions at the various types of public crossings during the last 3 years.
Active warning devices (48.3% of collisions and 39.5% of crossings)
Gated – driver must willingly drive around gates
Flashing lights – Driver provided a warning – knows to stop – but then driver has to make a decision as the flashers are interpreted as stop and proceed when safe (like a STOP sign). Requires education.
Passive devices - (47.7% of collisions and 53.5% of crossings)
Requires driver perception and decision. Determine if a train is present and then decide what to do.

8. Trespasser Casualties
1073
1058
1032
1049
1049
981
989
955
945
924
916
936
877
895
877
877
874
890
825
760
766
Not much progress – slight overall downward trend but variable
Red – 1st year trespass fatalities passed crossing fatalities

9. GX Incidents by Vehicle Type – CY 2011

10. GX Incidents by Vehicle Type – CY 2012

11. Grade Crossing Fatalities by Region

12. Grade Crossing Fatalities - Region 5

13. Grade Crossing Fatalities - Region 6

14. Grade Crossing Fatalities - Region 7

15. Grade Crossing Fatalities - Region 8

16. Grade Crossing Injuries by Region

17. Grade Crossing Injuries – Region 5

18. Grade Crossing Injuries – Region 6

19. Grade Crossing Injuries – Region 7

20. Grade Crossing Injuries – Region 8

21. Trespasser Fatalities by Region

22. Trespasser Fatalities – Region 5

23. Trespasser Fatalities – Region 6

24. Trespasser Fatalities – Region 7

25. Trespasser Fatalities – Region 8

26. Trespasser Injuries by Region

27. Trespasser Injuries – Region 5

28. Trespasser Injuries – Region 6

29. Trespasser Injuries – Region 7

30. Trespasser Injuries – Region 8

31. Trespasser Demographics Study issued June, 2013

32. Trespasser Fatalities, 2005 - 2010

33. Trespasser Fatalities per 100K population, 2005 - 2010

34. Trespasser Age Distribution vs. National Age Distribution

35. Trespasser Gender Distribution

36. Trespasser Age at Death, by Gender

37. Trespasser Age Distribution by Gender

38. Trespasser Fatalities by Race

39. Trespasser Fatalities by Ethnicity

40. FRA Safetydata Web Site

47. Questions ????
Ron Ries