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The Importance of Rail Safety

Current projections show continued growth of all types of rail transportation—freight, passenger, light and high speed. Engineering advancements along with boosted ridership promise more trains on more tracks going faster than ever before. Operation Lifesaver's rail safety education programs, dedicated to keeping people safe around trains by reducing the likelihood of  train/vehicle and pedestrian collisions, are more relevant today than they have ever been.


What is the future of rail?

Freight transportation demand is projected to nearly double by 2035--if present market trends continue, railroads will be expected to handle an 88% increase in tonnage during that same period (source: DOT Strategic Plan 2010-2015.) Amtrak, with ridership at record levels of 31.2 million passengers for fiscal year 2012, predicts those numbers could increase to 60 million by 2050. Although current economic challenges mean these growth projections will take longer to come about, educating people through Operation Lifesaver's rail safety programs will still be critical to keeping them safe around increasing numbers of trains, railroad-rights-of-way and rail property.

Safety is more important than ever.

Since 1972 Operation Lifesaver programs have augmented important engineering improvements and law enforcement efforts to produce a steady decline in injuries and fatalities at highway-rail grade crossings (an 83% decrease in incidents since our founding.) Yet with nearly 220,000 private and public crossings in use today, improving grade-crossing safety and maintaining those gains remains a constant challenge. In partnership with rail safety advocates in the railroad industry and at federal, state and local governments, Operation Lifesaver is dedicated to answering rising rail transportation demands with an equally powerful commitment using education to keep people safe around railroad-rights-of-way.

Our modern, technology-driven world constantly introduces fresh challenges for rail safety advocates. From teens walking with headphones to distracted drivers approaching highway-rail grade crossings, it's vitally important to look and listen near tracks or railroad property and stay alert to stay alive. At Operation Lifesaver, we believe that through the 3 E's—education, enforcement and engineering—we can successfully join other rail safety partners to address these challenges, making communities with tracks and railroad property safer, reducing collision incidents and decreasing the likelihood of injuries and fatalities. At Operation Lifesaver, what we do helps save lives.

Learn More about Rail Safety:

  • Engineering 
  • Enforcement
  • Education
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Decline in collisions

We’ve helped to reduce the number of train/motor vehicle collisions from a 1972 high of roughly 12,000 annual incidents to approximately 2,087 incidents in 2013.
(Source: FRA preliminary 2013 statistics).

About Operation Lifesaver

Operation Lifesaver’s mission is to end collisions, deaths and injuries at highway-rail grade crossings and on rail property through a nationwide network of volunteers who work to educate people about rail safety. Our national office in Alexandria, VA, supports state programs, developing videos, educational brochures, instructional information and other materials for audiences of all ages. Our state coordinators are located in all 50 states.

National Office

Operation Lifesaver, Inc.
1420 King Street, Suite 201
Alexandria, VA 22314

1-800-537-6224
703-739-0308
Fax: 703-519-8267
Email : general@oli.org

Media Inquiries: news@oli.org

Transit Inquiries: sarah@sksolutions.net

Our Staff

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