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 According to the Federal Railroad Administration, 250 people
died and 943 were injured in 2013 as a result of grade crossing
incidents across the United States.
Union Pacific shares its commitment to public safety through
various channels such as community events, media outreach, law
enforcement partnerships and collaboration with Operation
Lifesaver. The UP CARES (Union Pacific Crossing Accident
Reduction Education and Safety) public safety initiative brings
together communities in a collaborative and caring effort to
promote railroad grade crossing and pedestrian safety.
"As agriculture producers harvest their crops this year, we want
to remind them to approach railroad crossings with caution and
take the extra time to be sure a train is not near because you
never know when a train will come along," said Robert Morrison,
Union Pacific Chief of Police.
To increase awareness of railroad safety during harvest, Union
Pacific safety team members have provided elevator operators in
Nebraska with grade crossing safety information in the form of a
visor card that is attached to a weigh scale ticket holder.
Drivers are then given the safety information when they receive
their weigh ticket.
"It can take a mile or more to stop a train and by the time a
locomotive engineer sees you on the track, it would be too
late," said Lawrence Wenko, Union Pacific director – Public
Safety.
"Locomotives and rail cars overhang the tracks by at least three
feet on either side of the rail and loose straps hanging from
rail cars may extend even further. If your combine or tractor
are too close to the tracks, you can be hit by the locomotive or
a rail car," added Wenko.
Union Pacific has reduced grade crossing accident rates by 15
percent from 2003 - 2013. UP CARES initiatives promote
pedestrian and driver safety through a variety of outreach
efforts:
- Grade crossing education and enforcement, during which
motorists violating rail crossing signage and laws are
educated about the dangers of such actions. Related
“positive enforcement” initiatives reward drivers who
operate safely at grade crossings.
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- Safety trains, which host local law enforcement, media and
public officials and provide them the opportunity to ride in the
locomotive cab and see traffic violations from a locomotive
engineer's point of view. This activity also allows Union
Pacific to connect with community leaders and help them better
understand the railroad's focus on safety.
- Communication blitzes, which educate the public via
community events, media outreach and paid advertising. Media
outreach coincides with safety trains in UP communities.
Do not become a railroad statistic; use caution when approaching
and crossing railroad tracks this harvest.
[Mark Davis, Union Pacific Railroad]
About Union Pacific --
Union Pacific Railroad is the principal operating company of
Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE: UNP). One of America's most
recognized companies, Union Pacific Railroad connects 23 states
in the western two-thirds of the country by rail, providing a
critical link in the global supply chain. From 2004-2013, Union
Pacific invested approximately $30 billion in its network and
operations to support America’s transportation infrastructure.
The railroad’s diversified business mix includes Agricultural
Products, Automotive, Chemicals, Coal, Industrial Products and
Intermodal. Union Pacific serves many of the fastest-growing
U.S. population centers, operates from all major West Coast and
Gulf Coast ports to eastern gateways, connects with Canada's
rail systems and is the only railroad serving all six major
Mexico gateways. Union Pacific provides value to its roughly
10,000 customers by delivering products in a safe, reliable,
fuel-efficient and environmentally responsible manner.
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