IV 

116TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. RES. 1106 

Expressing support to designate the week of September 21 through September 

27, 2020, Rail Safety Week in the United States, and to support the 

goals and ideals of Rail Safety Week to reduce rail-related accidents, 

fatalities, and injuries. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

SEPTEMBER 11, 2020 

Ms. WILSON of Florida submitted the following resolution; which was referred 

to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure 

RESOLUTION 

Expressing support to designate the week of September 21 

through September 27, 2020, Rail Safety Week in the 

United States, and to support 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 

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


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2 

•HRES 1106 IH 

Whereas the number of public crossings has decreased by 8 

percent, while the number of gates has increased by 26 

percent since 2005; 

Whereas over the course of 30 years, grade crossing fatalities 

have decreased by 57 percent; 

Whereas while grade crossing injuries are 11 percent higher, 

grade crossing fatalities are 21 percent higher, and grade 

crossing collisions are 15 percent higher, since 2009; 

Whereas preliminary Federal statistics show that more than 

2,216 highway-grade crossing crashes occurred across the 

United States in 2019, resulting in 299 persons killed 

and another 822 injured; 

Whereas highway-grade crossing crashes are more severe 

than highway collisions and are more likely to result in 

death and injury; 

Whereas an estimated 94 percent of collisions and 87 percent 

of fatalities result from risky driving behavior each year; 

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 21 

through 27, 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 observe 

Rail Safety Week concurrently; and 


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3 

•HRES 1106 IH 

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 House of Representatives— 

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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