III 

115TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. RES. 660 

Expressing support for the designation of the week of September 23 through 

September 29, 2018, 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 28, 2018 

Mr. NELSON (for himself, Mr. THUNE, Mr. PETERS, and Mrs. FISCHER) 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 23 through September 29, 2018, 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 660 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 in fiscal year 2017; 

Whereas the number of public crossings has declined 8 percent, while the number of gates increased by 30 percent, 

since 2005; 

Whereas, in 2017, 49 percent of all grade crossing collisions 

and 61 percent of all fatal grade crossing collisions occurred at gated crossings; 

Whereas while grade crossing injuries are 16 percent lower, 

grade crossing fatalities are 6 percent lower, and grade 

crossing collisions are 13 percent lower since 2008, challenges remain; 

Whereas, in 2017, there were 824 rail-related fatalities and 

8,712 rail-related injuries in the United States; 

Whereas preliminary Federal statistics show that more than 

2,117 highway-grade crossing crashes occurred during 

2017, resulting in 272 persons killed and another 833 injured across the United States; 

Whereas trespassing incidents on railroad property resulted 

in 512 persons killed and another 508 injured across the 

Nation in 2017; 

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 pubVerDate Sep 11 2014 22:49 Sep 28, 2018 Jkt 079200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\SR660.IS SR660

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lic education program about grade-crossing safety and 

prevention of trespassing; 

Whereas during Rail Safety Week, from September 23 

through 29, and throughout the year, everyone is encouraged to observe added caution as motorists or pedestrians 

approach tracks or trains; 

Whereas, for the first time, 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 the goals and 

5 ideals of Rail Safety Week and efforts to reduce rail6 related accidents, fatalities, and injuries; and 

7 (3) encourages the people of the United States 

8 to participate in Rail Safety Week events and activi9 ties and to educate themselves and others on how to 

10 be safe around railroad tracks. 

Æ 


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