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

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

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

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; http://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/pdf/nrd-30/NCSA/TSF2005/810623.pdf - 3-7-07)) - Rail traffic = 770,258,319 - Total Exposure = 2282 quadrillion 2005 – Hwy traffic = 2,965 billion (2005 data; http://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/pdf/nrd-30/NCSA/TSF2005/810623.pdf - 3-7-07)) - Rail traffic = 790,491,238 - Total Exposure = 2344 quadrillion 2006 – Hwy traffic = 3,014 billion (2006 data; http://www.bts.gov/publications/state_transportation_statistics/state_transportation_statistics_2007/html/table_05_03.html) - Rail traffic = 809,044,888 - Total Exposure = 2438 quadrillion 2007 – Hwy traffic = 3031 billion (2007 data; http://www.bts.gov/publications/national_transportation_statistics/html/table_01_35.html 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) http://www.bts.gov/publications/national_transportation_statistics/html/table_01_35.html - 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) http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/policyinformation/statistics/2011/vm202.cfm - Rail traffic = 740,164,597 - Total exposure = 2180 quadrillion Fatalities Collisions X 10

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.

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.

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.

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

GX Incidents by Vehicle Type – CY 2011

GX Incidents by Vehicle Type – CY 2012

Grade Crossing Fatalities by Region

Grade Crossing Fatalities - Region 5

Grade Crossing Fatalities - Region 6

Grade Crossing Fatalities - Region 7

Grade Crossing Fatalities - Region 8

Grade Crossing Injuries by Region

Grade Crossing Injuries – Region 5

Grade Crossing Injuries – Region 6

Grade Crossing Injuries – Region 7

Grade Crossing Injuries – Region 8

Trespasser Fatalities by Region

Trespasser Fatalities – Region 5

Trespasser Fatalities – Region 6

Trespasser Fatalities – Region 7

Trespasser Fatalities – Region 8

Trespasser Injuries by Region

Trespasser Injuries – Region 5

Trespasser Injuries – Region 6

Trespasser Injuries – Region 7

Trespasser Injuries – Region 8

Trespasser Demographics Study issued June, 2013

Trespasser Fatalities, 2005 - 2010

Trespasser Fatalities per 100K population, 2005 - 2010

Trespasser Age Distribution vs. National Age Distribution

Trespasser Gender Distribution

Trespasser Age at Death, by Gender

Trespasser Age Distribution by Gender

Trespasser Fatalities by Race

Trespasser Fatalities by Ethnicity

FRA Safetydata Web Site http://safetydata.fra.dot.gov

Questions ???? Ron Ries Ron.ries@dot.gov 202-493-6285