Safety funds vs. train miles traveled

Trains Magazine General Discussion
1

Last year was around $200 million. 21 cents a train mile Federal, a nickle a train mile state, and the railroads OLI mouthpiece cost them .00134 cents a train mile divided by ton miles—breaking out the electron microscope–carry 3—Walla abount $5 per day per each of the 600 railroads.

Railroads 1975 to 2002
Year–100 million train miles–total killed–killed per 100 millliom miles

1975-------7.55------------------------1560------206

1976-------7.74------------------------1630------210

1977-------7.50------------------------1539------204

1978-------7.51------------------------1646------219

1979-------7.63------------------------1429------187

1980-------7.17------------------------1417------197

1981-------6.76------------------------1284------189

1982-------5.73------------------------1119------195

1983-------5.58------------------------1073------192

1984-------5.92------------------------1247------210

1985-------5.70------------------------1036------181

1986-------5.67------------------------1091------192

1987-------5.81------------------------1165------200

1988-------6.09------------------------1199------196

1989-------6.20------------------------1324------213

1990-------6.08------------------------1297------213

1991-------5.76------------------------1194------207

1992-------5.93------------------------1170------197

1993-------6.13------------------------1279------208

1994-------6.55------------------------1226------187

1995-------6.69------------------------1146------171

1996-------6.70------------------------1039------155

1997-------6.76------------------------1063------157

1998-------6.82------------------------1008------147

1999-------7.12--------------------------932

2

This tells me nothing. Out of all these death’s, how many were caused by drivers going around gates? How many of these death’s were caused by drivers trying to beat the train? How many were caused by people trasspassing on railroad property? Still it is very low. I am very impressed with the rail industries safty record. Now if we can get the Auto industry to follow the rail industies example. Thanks for that info, I’m sure there are plenty of rail workers who are proud at how low those figures truely are.
TIM A

3

AH HA! looks like it’s Decreasing… end of story.

kev.

4

Well Kev to compare with …That means the highway fatality rate per 100 million vehicle miles traveled (VMT) remained unchanged at 1.51, even though the total number of highway deaths increased last year…you take the 7.62 x the 1.51=11.506. Then take the 951 and subtract the 11 and railroads killed 940 more people last year than normal drivers per miles traveled and they pay -0-, zip, nadda, for safety equipment.

According to preliminary estimates from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the number of truck-related highway accident fatalities dropped 3.5% last year, while overall highway deaths rose slightly.
NHTSA said fatalities from large truck crashes dropped to 4,902 last year from 5,082 in 2001. Overall, an estimated 42,850 people died U.S. highways in 2002, up from 42,116 in 2001, the highest number of fatalities since 1990.

However, vehicle miles traveled increased slightly last year to 2.83 trillion, up from 2.78 trillion in 2001, according to the Federal Highway Administration. That means the highway fatality rate per 100 million vehicle miles traveled (VMT) remained unchanged at 1.51, even though the total number of highway deaths increased last year.

NHTSA’s preliminary 2002 statistics also show that the risk of death and injury when drivers and passengers do not wear safety belts continues to increase, as 59% of those killed in crashes last year were not belted.

Alcohol-related crashes accounted for 17,970 highway deaths, which is up 1% from the previous year.

5

I thought they quit showing re-runs of
“Fat Albert”.

Here we have Mush Mouth at it again.

Brian (KY)
Oh, can you believe I signed it.

6

I believe you are right Tim, I expected it to be
much higher, I had no idea that the death rate
per million miles was so low, that is an extreamly
good statistic, and yes I’m proud to have done
my share, by operating my train in a professional
manner, blowing the horn at all marked crossings
keeping at the posted speed, ect, now if we could just get the fools and idiots to quit running
around lowered gates and turning their radios
down and listening and slowing down at all crossings and looking both ways before crossing
maybe we could bring it down even more, what do
you think ? jackflash

7

Lets see if I got this.
42850 people died on public roads/property, paid for and maintained by taxpayers, and 951 people died tresspassing on railroads/private property, and we are the bad guys?
You ought to go jack around with the NHTSA, there is a lot more chances there to make a *** of yourself with them.
The Unihead Ed

8

Brian he can give me all the numbers he wants.The correct answer is 1. Yes just 1.When the 1 behind the wheel stop looks listens and lives everybody wins!
stay safe
joe

9

You have not answered my questions. How many of the deaths in 2002 were actually faulted toward the railroad? You seem to have alot of time on your hands looking up statistic’s, look that one up. Or are you afraid as to what you might find?
Also, your highway death figures are presented in a deceaving manner. The way you present them, you show that you are safer driving in a car on the highway, then crossing railroad tracks. Anyone with commonsence would tell you, that is a false claim. In fact, you stand a higher risk getting killed by a drunk driver on the highway then at a rail crossing. (YOUR numbers show that.)
I think before you respond again, you should recrunch the numbers. I am sure you will find that the rail industy has a very good safty record.
ILLINIOS

10

The railroads fault won’t come out for the 2002 collisions until the court cases come out in 2004-2005. The railroads always lose or settle on the court house steps because they know they are gonna lose.

11

Joe
Spoken so true!

Brian (KY)

12

This is BS I’ve been in 5 cases in court and the
railroad won all 5 cases. jackflash

13

How would you know, unless you were one of the people on the court house steps, with your hand out?
The Unihead Ed

14

Ok, then go back till you find a year were all the case’s are settled, you seem to have time on your hands. All I am asking for, is how many times the railroad has been proven negligent in a crossing accident? Can you show me one case in 2002 were the railroad was totally at fault? You use the name Missouri (The show me state) Show me one case were the driver Stopped, Looked and Listen, then proceeded and got hit by a train.
If you are trying to make a point about something, you don’t seem to be doing a very good job. All you have proven to me so far is that railroad crossing death’s are going down.
ILLINIOS

15

Heres some of MY own Statistics…

Crossing location : Baie D’urfe, Quebec.
Number of tracks at corssing: 4
Number of trains during a one Week study: 1, 167
Types of Trains included: Passanger and freight
Day with the Most Train Volume: Tuesday

Tracks are owned by CN and CP (2 of each)

Amount of Gates at the crossing: 2
Amount of times they failed to come on: 0
Amount of traffic that went around these gates in their lowered state: 109
30 of them were semi close calls, 11 of them were really close calls, and 1 was almost hit.

Amount of responsibility the railraod has: 0%
Amount of Responsibility the Faulty drivers have: 100%

So whats the deal on that eh?.. you gonna balme the Railroad for their stupidity… good luck… you realize In Quebec if 2 or more people whitness a train accident in Quebec… And both whitnesses testify that the Car went around the lowered gates, the Conductor and the Engineer are immediately let go… and the investigation goes no further…

case closed.

Why should they or I be held responsible for your stupid driving skills… simple… they aren’t in Quebec…

trust me if your a driver in Quebec, it sucks if you get hit by a train…

A) you can’t sue anyone… stupid lawsuits are not and never will be allowed in Canada…

B) Your case is closed if people cathc your stupidity… No questions asked…

So wow… no suing you got it idiot… you can’t sue jack all…

Even if you spill hot cofee on yourself… you can deffinately not sue anyone for that… those kind of cases are NOT tolerated…

Remeber “A dumb driver makes a good crossing go bad”

i bet missouri, you go out looking for lawsuits too… you wouldn’t be able in canada… your not allowed to waste the Courts times with Frivilovities, and people like you… so buck up

16

If you really want to be a crusader go after the drunk drivers and reckless and sleepy truckers…They kill MORE people then the railroads in the REAL WORLD and BUT YOU SEEM TO LIVE IN FANTASY WORLD WHERE TRAINS ONLY KILL PEOPLE…

17

Kev you live in a great country wi***he USA was like Canada.

18

I can send you some scrap poles and cable to make median barriers out of. Or safety cones are pretty cheap —just screw them to the street—pvc pipe sticking up every couple of feet works as median barriers. Whoop couldn’t say -0- the could you. Now the question is what is the time from the first flashing light and the train gets there? Should be like 40 seconds for a quad track crossing. Is there 2nd, 3rd, 4th track occupied equipment installed at the crossing? How about are two trains allowed in the crossing area at the same time where one becomes the sight obstruction? How about occupied crossing equipment with lasors shooting across at diagonal angles to tell the train crew two miles before they get there that a gas truck is stalled on the crossing. Is the approach deiced before the trains move across. And the big question is how the heqq do you know if the gates failed or not? You on gate watch 24/7. EH!

19

What do you not understand that the railroads kill 5 times more people a year than are killed in a lot of states—for the whole state all drivers–for a whole year?

20

what do you not understand that we dont care. i dont care could care less. and i pretty much speak for everyone on here. the part you dont understand is that the crossing deaths are not caused by the railroad its not caused by the engineer the signal maintainer or anyone else on the railroad. the fact remains that the driver at the wreck in the stupidity he shows is at fault. you get in my way i will hit you and kill you. the highway has a much higher death toll than the railroad. in 27years ive seen 15 fatal accidents on the railroad. i think this was a great record. i know of several accidents one the guy hit the 32nd car in the train. and almost got killed. he was very bad shape for some time. the truth be known is the fault lie with the driver of the car not the railroad. and all your ranting and raving wont change any ones mind here. if you want to make a differance then go to schools and do like operation life saver does and promote saftey. other wise keep your opinion to yourself.as i have disproved you so many times ans the numbers you keep posting i never read as with most statostics they aint worth the time. Oh yes one more thing if they pull in front of me ill be more than happy to hit them and if they are lucky ill kill them then they wont suffer so long.