III 

117TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. RES. 382 

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

September 26, 2021, 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, 2021 

Ms. CANTWELL (for herself, Mr. WICKER, Mr. PETERS, and Mrs. FISCHER) 

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, 2021, 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 

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


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2 

•SRES 382 ATS 

Whereas highway-rail grade crossing and trespassing accidents constituted approximately 96 percent of all rail-related fatalities during 2020; 

Whereas, since 2005— 

(1) the number of public highway-rail grade crossings has decreased by 9.8 percent; and 

(2) the number of gates at such crossings has increased by 38.1 percent; 

Whereas, in 2020, 47 percent of all highway-rail grade crossing collisions and 69 percent of all fatal highway-rail 

grade crossing collisions occurred at gated highway-rail 

grade crossings; 

Whereas preliminary Federal statistics indicate that 1,901 

highway-grade crossing collisions occurred in the United 

States in 2020, resulting in 198 deaths and another 685 

individuals injured; 

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 

Whereas this important observance should lead to greater 

safety awareness and a reduction in highway-rail grade 


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3 

•SRES 382 ATS 

crossing collisions and other 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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