EXPIRED Support of a Recommendation to the U.S. Federal Railroad Administration to Declare One Week Each Year as “U.S. Rail Safety Week”
Support of a Recommendation to the U.S. Federal Railroad Administration to
Declare One Week Each Year as "U.S. Rail Safety Week"
Submitted by: IACP Railroad Police Section
RPS.04.t16
Passed: November 2016
WHEREAS, there are nearly 140,000 miles of railroad tracks which run through communities of all sizes along with 129, 582 public rail crossings in the United States (U.S.);
WHEREAS, in 2015, there were 11,530 railroad-related incidents across the U.S., of which 723 resulted in fatalities;
WHEREAS, railroads invest hundreds of millions of dollars each year in maintaining and improving grade crossings and in programs and initiatives related to grade crossing safety, including continuous commitment through dedicated Railroad Police Departments of substantial resources for grade crossing safety, trespasser enforcement, and public education initiatives;
WHEREAS, significant resources are committed by local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies to promote public safety at and near railroad tracks, grade crossings, and other facilities, in conjunction with railroad police agencies;
WHEREAS, railroads work closely with local, state and federal government agencies as well as other national programs, such as Operation Lifesaver, to educate the public on the risks posed by trespassing and grade crossing violations and to emphasize awareness of safe practices at and near railroads' property and operations;
WHEREAS, a concerted, nationwide focus on rail safety by law enforcement at all levels will have demonstrable positive effects on rail safety awareness, preventing rail- related incidents, and ultimately saving lives;
RESOLVED, that the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) recommends that the Federal Railroad Administration of the U.S. Department of Transportation set and declare one week each year as "U.S. Rail Safety Week" in order to augment the continuing efforts by police across jurisdictions and areas of responsibility for prevention of violations at grade crossings and trespassing in order to save lives.
