According to the Federal Railroad Administration, 94% of all rail-related fatalities and injuries occur at railroad crossings or due to trespassing. Trespassing along railroad rights-of-way is the leading cause of rail-related deaths in America, and more than 400 trespass fatalities occur nationally each year. Railroad crossing incidents are the second leading cause of rail-related deaths in America.

Almost all of these deaths and injuries are preventable. 

While the number of crossing collisions, deaths and injuries has dropped over the past five decades thanks in part to aggressive work from the rail industry, trespassing is still the largest safety issue for freight railroads. Rail Safety Week (RSW) is one of the many ways freight railroads work with government and public partners to educate the public on how to make safe choices near railroad tracks.

Operation Lifesaver, Inc. (OLI) is a non-profit public safety education and awareness organization that has helped reduce risky behavior around rail tracks and crossings since 1972. One week every September since 2017, OLI has led the annual RSW event to educate a wide swath of drivers and pedestrians – from parents to photographers, bus drivers, new drivers, bikers, police, children and more. In 2022 alone, OLI increased its media coverage reach by nearly 50% and its social media impressions by more than 225%.

RSW 2023: September 18-24

From signing a quick online pledge to sharing social posts and videos, visit OLI.org to see how you can participate in RSW and help #StopTrackTragedies. Here are the daily themes for this year:

• Monday, 9/18: #STOPTrackTragedies
• Tuesday, 9/19: Operation Clear Track; Law Enforcement, First Responder Partnerships
• Wednesday, 9/20: Crossing Safety
• Thursday, 9/21: Transit Safety Thursday & Professional Driver Safety
• Friday, 9/22: Volunteer to Wear Red for Rail Safety
• Saturday, 9/23: Trespass Prevention
• Sunday, 9/24: No Photo/Video/Selfie is Worth the Risk