The number of crossing fatalities has been low in recent years but casualties associated with trespassing, while small, is high based on the miles of rail lines in the Commonwealth. Nevertheless, one of any type of casualty is too much and we are committed to further reductions. While the number of casualties associated with railroads is very small compared to highway fatalities, the huge weight ratio between an auto or human body and a train is extreme. This large difference in weight makes any contact with a train much more severe than an incident between to highway vehicles. As a comparison, it is very rare that anybody would even think about walking on the travel lane of a super highway or an airport runway. Doing the same on a railroad is more dangerous but it is a common practice to use a rail line as a path to a favorite fishing spot. Even low speed trains pose a danger as severe as walking on a super highway or an airport runway. In the Commonwealth, there are approximatley 1,100 route miles of active track with 1,192 public crossings and 538 private crossings. That accounts for approximately two crossings for every mile of rail line where the traveling public interfaces with railroads. In addition, many people venture onto railroad property not knowing the inherent dangers of a railroad. Railroad traffic in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts has been increasing in recent years. Despite this trend, casualties associated with crashes at crossings remains low. National statistics indicate that the majority of highway-rail grade crossing crashes occur due to driver inattention. By informing the motoring public about the properties of trains, and their responsibilities approaching and crossing tracks, the motoring public will understand that extra precautions heeded at crossings will create a safe way to co-exist with rail transportation.

The key facts that drive our safety message in the Commonwealth include the following:

• There are two crossings for every mile of track
• Crossing and trespass incidents are the single largest cause of all railroad fatalities
• One third of public crossings are equipped with active warning devices
• A motorist is 50 times likelier to be killed in a crash with a train vs. an incident with another vehicle
• Crossing and railroad trespass incidents are second only to airplane crashes in severity
• A freight train with one hundred cars traveling at 55 MPH may take over a mile and a half to stop
• An eight-car passenger train traveling at 80 MPH may take over a mile to stop
• Twenty  five percent of crashes occur with the vehicle impacting the side of the train
• Two thirds of crashes occur during daylight
• Reduction of train speed is not a panacea – most collisions occur while train is traveling less than 35 MPH
• One half of all crashes occur at crossings with active devices
• Most fatalities occur within twenty-five miles of a persons home
• Average age of people involved in railroad crashes is 30 years of age
• Average freight train is 6000 tons (twelve million lbs) – auto 3000 lbs. This is a 4000:1 ratio or the equivalent of running over a tin can with your car