Preliminary Rail Crossing and Trespass Statistics, 2015 vs. 2014
Source: FRA Office of Safety Analysis
| California Crossing Statistics | California Trespass Statistics | ||||||
| Collisions | Deaths | Injuries | All Casualties | Deaths | Injuries | ||
| 2014 | 128 | 32 | 45 | 2014 | 143 | 91 | 52 |
| 2015 | 148 | 32 | 42 | 2015 | 145 | 98 | 47 |
| % Change | 15.6% | 0% | -6.7% | % Change | 1.4% | 7.7% | -9.6% |
Sacramento, CA March 14, 2015 – Collisions at highway-rail grade crossings in CA rose by 15.6 percent in 2015 and rail trespass casualties (deaths plus injuries) fell according to the nonprofit rail safety education organization California Operation Lifesaver, www.caoperationlifesaver.com. The group cited preliminary 2015 Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) statistics.
“We are concerned with this increase in highway-rail grade crossing collisions,” said California Operation Lifesaver State Coordinator, Nancy Sheehan. “We will continue our work educating Americans about the crucial need to stay off train tracks and obey warning signs and signals,” said California Operation Lifesaver State Coordinator Nancy Sheehan.
Nationally, vehicle-train collisions and deaths at highway-rail grade crossings fell in 2015, along with injuries to people trespassing on train tracks, while the number of trespassers killed on train tracks rose compared to 2014, as did the number injured as a result of crossing collisions, Sheehan said.
Overall, California crossing collisions were up 15.6% percent in 2015 from 2014, to 148; crossing fatalities remained unchanged at 32 fatalities and crossing injuries 6.7% percent to 42, FRA statistics reveal. Trespass fatalities increased, 7.7 percent in 2015 to 98, and trespass injuries fell 9.6 percent from 2014 to 47.
“Our ‘See Tracks? Think Train!” message is more important than ever to remind California residents that it’s illegal and extremely dangerous to use train tracks for recreational activities,” Sheehan continued. “In partnership with the rail industry, state and local law enforcement, and transportation agencies, Operation Lifesaver is making a difference across the state,” she concluded.
Learn more at: www.caoperationlifesaver.com Follow: http://twitter.com/CAOpLifeSaver Visit: http://www.facebook.com/CAOperationLifesaver
Operation Lifesaver’s mission is to end collisions, deaths and injuries at highway-rail grade crossings and along railroad rights of way. A national network of trained volunteers provides free presentations on rail safety. Learn more at [state website URL, Facebook or Twitter link] or at http://www.oli.org.
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