Friday, October 01, 1999 (Washington DC )

U.S. Transportation Secretary Rodney E. Slater and Federal Railroad Administrator Jolene M. Molitoris today announced the publication of a new report showing dramatic improvement in the safety of the nation’s railroads as a result of the Clinton administration’s partnership with the industry.

According to the 1998 Railroad Safety Statistics Annual Report, issued by the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), employee and passenger fatalities, as well as highway-rail incidents and fatalities, have dropped sharply despite increases in rail traffic.

"President Clinton and Vice President Gore challenged the government to do business in a new way, to work better together and get results that Americans care about," said Secretary Slater. "The report we are issuing today demonstrates that this approach to governing is working by dramatically increasing safety in the railroad industry."

"The FRA has established a goal of zero tolerance for railroad-related incidents, injuries and fatalities," said Administrator Molitoris. "We have made significant progress toward that goal and we will continue to work with our partners, provide education, develop technology and invest in safety programs to reach our goal."

Taking up the administration’s challenge, the FRA established partnerships in 1993 with rail labor and management to create best practices in the railroad industry to enhance railroad safety. These successful partnerships have contributed to improved safety results by focusing on the root causes of problems, understanding the nature of rail-related incidents and analyzing trends in railroad safety.

The statistics tell the safety story. Between 1997-98 there was a 27 percent reduction in railroad employee fatalities and a 33 percent reduction in passenger fatalities. In addition, total highway-rail incidents declined 9 percent and highway-rail injuries 15 percent, while highway-rail grade crossing fatalities involving motor vehicles dropped 12 percent.

There also have been dramatic six-year safety results. Between 1993-98 passenger fatalities dropped 93 percent and employee fatalities 43 percent. At the same time, total highway-rail incidents declined 28 percent, highway-rail fatalities 31 percent and highway-rail injuries 29 percent. These safety achievements occurred while railroad operations, measured in train miles, increased 11 percent.

Railroads began reporting incidents to the federal government in 1910 and are required by law to submit incident reports within thirty days after the month during which the incident occurred. Railroads have until April 15 of the following year to submit final reports for that year.

The 1998 Railroad Safety Statistics Annual Report is available in book form and may be obtained by calling the FRA’s Office of Public Affairs at 202-493-6024. The report can also be found on the FRA’s website at www.fra.dot.gov.