• Every 2 hours, a train and vehicle collide at a railroad crossing.
• An estimated 3,000 train accidents occur each year.
• Approximately 1,000 people die as a result of train accidents each year.
• In 2003 there were 2,928 accidents resulting in 324 deaths and over 998 serious injuries.
• There are approximately 253,000 railroad crossings throughout the United States.
• Approximately 82,000 (37%) are not gated.
• Gates are 80-90% more effective than crossbucks and stop signs to prevent accidents.
• Almost 80% of deaths occurs at relatively light-traveled crossings not equipped with gates.

For additional information regarding railroad crossing safety and statistics, please visit the following resource sites:

Federal Railroad Administration

Home to the Office of Safety Analysis web site where visitors have access to railroad safety information. Find information on accidents and incidents, highway-rail crossing data, run queries and download safety data base files.

Office of Highway Safety

National highway safety statistic and safety information from government agency committed to reducing roadway related fatalities and injuries, including highway/railroad crossing injuries.

FRA Office of Safety Analysis

This site was established for the purpose of making railroad safety information readily available to a broad constituency that includes FRA personnel, railroad companies, research and planning organizations and the public, in general.

American Association of State and Highway Transportation Officials

A non-profit, no partisan association representing all five transportation modes; air, highways, public transportation, rail and water in the 50 states, District of Columbia and Puerto Rico.

National Transportation Safety Board

The National Transportation Safety Board is an independent Federal agency charged by Congress with investigating every civil aviation accident in the United States and significant accidents in other modes of transportation.

Federal Transit Administration - Railroad Safety

Enhancing Rail Safety Now and Into the 21st Century: The Federal Railroad Administration's Railroad Safety Program provides railroad safety research, related resources, and documents.

Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety

Alliance of consumer, health and safety groups and insurance companies and agents working together to make America's roads safer.

Safetyforum

Public health and safety news, research, legal support and document retrieval service.