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COMMENTARY
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Innovation and Partnerships Needed to Prevent Rail-Related Injuries and Fatalities
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BY RACHEL MALEH
Executive Director
Operation Lifesaver Inc.
Washington, DC
 U.S. rail systems—commuter, heavy and light rail, as well as streetcars—account for 33 billion rail passenger miles annually, according to APTA studies. The number of passenger rail systems grew from 52 in 1995 to 83 in 2015, with an 86 percent increase in ridership. |
Studies also show rail transit is a safe mode of transportation compared to highway driving. In fact, FTA statistics show that most fatalities on public transit are among members of the general public, not transit riders or employees.
Of concern, though, is that the number of deaths and injuries to members of the public involving rail transit systems rose between 2007 and 2015. These incidents involved pedestrians, including those trespassing on public transit property, and automobile drivers colliding with trains and streetcars.
What’s behind this rise in incidents? Misinformation, lack of awareness and distraction are unfortunately all too common near public transit systems and can lead to tragic results. Many people are not aware that it can take a rail transit vehicle more than 600 feet (depending on the type of vehicle) to come to a stop once the operator applies the emergency brake. People believe they will always hear a train coming, though modern trains and public transit vehicles can be quiet and thus difficult to hear.
The heartbreaking reality of these events, which affect families, rail employees and entire communities, is that they are preventable.
Operation Lifesaver Inc. (OLI), the national rail safety education organization, was created with the mission of reducing these tragic incidents by empowering people to keep themselves safe around freight, passenger and light rail trains. OLI programs are active in 47 states and our state program leaders and thousands of volunteers are passionate about saving lives. Our DC-based nonprofit group is embarking on its 47th year working to spread the rail safety message with the help of safety allies from federal and state government, the rail industry, law enforcement and other nonprofits and community groups.
Innovation and partnership are needed to reduce rail-related deaths and injuries. We are constantly seeking innovative ways to share safety messages with the public while partnering with stakeholders and safety champions in the public and private sector to save lives.
OLI combines educational outreach activities with modern marketing practices to reach millions of Americans each year. We regularly work with public transit agencies across the country and with FTA to promote safe behavior around commuter rail, light rail, streetcars and subways.
We also develop educational materials to reach specific audiences at increased risk, such as new drivers and teens. For example, our newest video for drivers, “Drive Safe Near Trains,” includes a segment with tips on safely sharing the road with light rail trains. You can view this and other videos here. Recently we released the report Best Practices for Rail Transit Safety Education, which provides recommendations for developing effective public education campaigns.
OLI also partners with FTA to distribute Rail Transit Safety Education Grants to public transit systems throughout the country, using a competitive evaluation process to select applicants. Over the past three grant cycles, OLI awarded 27 grants to 25 different recipients in 16 states and DC. We are working with FTA now on plans for the next round of grants.
Our partnership with APTA and its members, and state Operation Lifesaver programs’ close relationships with public transit agencies, has proven successful. Since 2017, we have worked with state programs and partners to observe Rail Safety Week during the last week of September to focus attention on this important public safety issue.
Our public transit partners have found innovative ways to spread the rail safety message. Agencies including the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority in Boston, Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit in California, Chicago’s Metra system, Houston METRO, Metro Transit in Minneapolis-St. Paul and Utah Transit Authority, among others, have participated in Rail Safety Week with station events, safety posters, safety blitzes and “Red Out for Rail Safety” days, sharing our safety messages with riders and their communities.
Despite these encouraging—and successful—initiatives, there is still more we as an industry can collectively do. How else can innovation help address the rail safety problem? Soon, we hope, technology may play a bigger role, perhaps by warning drivers or pedestrians of an approaching crossing or train via their smartphone navigation systems. But technology is not fail-safe. The fewer distractions drivers and pedestrians have, and the more they know about the risks they face at crossings and near trains, the better-prepared they’ll be to keep themselves safe.
I invite you to learn more about Operation Lifesaver and partner with us in our mission to save lives. Here’s how:
* Get to know the Operation Lifesaver program in your state by checking out our contacts list;
* Schedule a free safety presentation for your organization or community—fill out a request form here;
* Consider becoming an Operation Lifesaver Authorized Volunteer (OLAV)—complete an application here; and
* Share safety messages and materials from the OLI website.
We hope you’ll join us as we work together to make our communities even safer.
"Commentary" features authoritative points of view from various sources on timely and pressing issues affecting public transportation. APTA would like to hear from you. If you are interested in submitting a original, thought-leader Commentary for consideration, please contact Senior Managing Editor David A. Riddy.
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