According to the Federal Railroad Administration, 96% of railway deaths involve suicides or people unauthorized to be on the tracks. To reduce accidents, railroads have adopted two strategies over the past few years. First, is automatic braking so collisions or high-speed derailments can be avoided, and second, is increasing awareness among passenger vehicles to stop collisions at track crossings.
Statistics
The U.S rail system has over 138,000 miles of track. According to the FRA Office of Safety, Kentucky currently has 4,707 highway‐rail at‐grade crossings operating, 2,414 of which are private while 2,293 are public. Highway‐rail at‐grade crossing incidents are showing a steady decline since mid-1990s. In 2013, a total of 2,087 highway‐rail crossing accidents were recorded nationwide, 50% lower than that recorded in 1994.
In Kentucky, highway‐rail at‐grade crossing accidents have also decreased since 1994. As per data released by the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, just over one percent of highway‐rail at‐grade crossings do not have warning devices or the type of protection is unknown. In 2013, a total of 49 highway‐rail at‐grade crossing accidents were recorded, in 1994, a total of 80 incidents occurred in Kentucky railways.
KYTC adds that among the warning devices installed in public highway-rail at-grade crossings are flashing lights, stop signs, and gates. Crossings without any of these devices make up just over one percent of the total number of public at-grade crossings recorded in Kentucky. Crossings without gates make up 32.65% of accidents.
Staying Safe Around Kentucky Rail Crossings
The KYTC report also reveals that the leading contributor to highway‐rail at‐grade crossing accidents was driver inattention, followed by failure to yield right of way.
Motorist behavior is important to staying safe around highway-rail grade crossings. Note that freight trains do not follow a fixed schedule. Passenger trains, on the other hand, may change schedules at any time. Please stay alert, and make sure to cross tracks only at designated areas. In Kentucky, railroad trespassing is punishable by law.
As a Kentucky Accident Attorney, I know that traffic crashes involving all vehicle types can be avoided long as you pay attention on the road, and watch your driving behavior. Trains will always have the right of way, even over emergency vehicles, so please always be careful and wait around until it’s safe to cross, even when you’re in a hurry.