III 

116TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. RES. 322 

Expressing support for the designation of the week of September 22 through 

September 28, 2019, as Rail Safety Week in the United States, and 

supporting the goals and ideals of Rail Safety Week to reduce railrelated accidents, fatalities, and injuries. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

SEPTEMBER 23, 2019 

Mr. WICKER (for himself, Ms. CANTWELL, Mrs. FISCHER, and Ms. 

DUCKWORTH) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to 

the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation 

RESOLUTION 

Expressing support for the designation of the week of September 22 through September 28, 2019, as Rail Safety 

Week in the United States, and supporting the goals 

and ideals of Rail Safety Week to reduce rail-related 

accidents, fatalities, and injuries. 

Whereas the first Rail Safety Week was held from September 

24 through September 30, 2017, by the national education safety nonprofit Operation Lifesaver, the Department of Transportation, and other organizations; 

Whereas Rail Safety Week was launched to raise awareness 

about the need for increased education on how to be safe 

around highway-rail grade crossings and railroad tracks, 


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•SRES 322 IS 

and to highlight efforts to further reduce collisions, injuries, and fatalities; 

Whereas highway-rail grade crossing and trespassing accidents constituted approximately 96 percent of all rail related fatalities during 2018; 

Whereas since 2005, the number of public crossings has declined by 8 percent, while the number of gates at such 

crossings has increased by 26 percent; 

Whereas, in 2018, 51 percent of all grade crossing collisions 

and 64 percent of all fatal grade crossing collisions occurred at gated crossings; 

Whereas, in 2018, there were a total of 841 rail-related fatalities and 8,177 rail-related injuries in the United 

States; 

Whereas preliminary Federal statistics show that 2,216 highway-grade crossing crashes occurred during 2018, resulting in 263 persons killed and another 840 persons injured throughout the United States; 

Whereas trespassing incidents on railroad property resulted 

in 571 persons killed and another 479 injured across the 

Nation in 2018; 

Whereas many collisions between trains and motor vehicles or 

pedestrians could have been prevented by increased education, engineering, and enforcement; 

Whereas Operation Lifesaver, the foremost public information 

and education program on rail safety, administers a public education program about grade-crossing safety and 

prevention of trespassing; 

Whereas during Rail Safety Week, from September 22 

through 28, 2019, and throughout the year, everyone is 


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•SRES 322 IS 

encouraged to observe added caution as motorists or pedestrians approach tracks or trains; 

Whereas, the United States and Canada will observe Rail 

Safety Week concurrently; and 

Whereas this important observance should lead to greater 

safety awareness and a reduction in highway-rail grade 

crossing crashes and pedestrian and railroad incidents: 

Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

2 (1) supports the designation of Rail Safety 

3 Week; 

4 (2) expresses strong support for— 

5 (A) the goals and ideals of Rail Safety 

6 Week; and 

7 (B) efforts to reduce rail-related accidents, 

8 fatalities, and injuries; and 

9 (3) encourages the people of the United 

10 States— 

11 (A) to participate in Rail Safety Week 

12 events and activities; and 

13 (B) to educate themselves and others on 

14 how to be safe around railroad tracks. 

Æ 


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