IV 

116TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. RES. 609 

Expressing support to designate the week of September 22 through September 

28, 2019, 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 27, 2019 

Ms. WILSON of Florida (for herself, Mr. BLUMENAUER, Ms. BROWNLEY of 

California, Mr. DEFAZIO, Mrs. DINGELL, Mr. KIND, Ms. NORTON, Mr. 

LARSEN of Washington, Mr. LIPINSKI, Mr. PAYNE, and Mr. HASTINGS) 

submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee 

on Transportation and Infrastructure 

RESOLUTION 

Expressing support to designate the week of September 22 

through September 28, 2019, 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, 


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•HRES 609 IH 

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

Whereas the number of public crossings has decreased by 8 

percent, while the number of gates has increased by 26 

percent since 2005; 

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

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

Whereas while grade crossing injuries are 13 percent higher, 

grade crossing fatalities are 6 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 2018, resulting in 263 persons killed 

and another 840 injured; 

Whereas trespassing incidents on railroad property resulted 

in 541 persons killed and another 481 injured in 2018; 

Whereas highway-grade crossing crashes are more severe 

than highway collisions and are more likely to result in 

death and injury; 

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 22 

through 28, and throughout the year, everyone is encourVerDate Sep 11 2014 21:20 Sep 27, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\HR609.IH HR609

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aged to take 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 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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