III 

116TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. RES. 768 

Expressing support for the designation of the week of September 20 through 

September 26, 2020, 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 

NOVEMBER 12, 2020 

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

DUCKWORTH) submitted the following resolution; which was considered 

and agreed to 

RESOLUTION 

Expressing support for the designation of the week of September 20 through September 26, 2020, 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 768 ATS 

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

Whereas highway-rail grade crossing and trespassing accidents constituted approximately 97 percent of all rail related fatalities during 2019; 

Whereas since 2005— 

(1) the number of public crossings has decreased by 

8 percent; and 

(2) the number of gates at public crossings has increased by 36 percent; 

Whereas in 2019, 49 percent of all grade crossing collisions 

and 65 percent of all fatal grade crossing collisions occurred at gated crossings; 

Whereas preliminary Federal statistics indicate that 2,228 

highway-grade crossing collisions occurred in the United 

States in 2019, resulting in 299 deaths and the injury of 

another 822 individuals; 

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 

trespassing prevention; 

Whereas during Rail Safety Week, from September 20 

through 26, and throughout the year, everyone is encouraged to take added caution as motorists or pedestrians 

approach tracks or trains; 

Whereas the United States, Canada, and Mexico will concurrently observe Rail Safety Week; and 


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•SRES 768 ATS 

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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