About every 3 hours a person or vehicle is hit by a train...that is a staggering statistic. And last year in the U.S., 269 people were killed in accidents at railroad crossing. The good news is that the numbers have been decreasing steadily over the last 40 years. This is in large part due to the requirements for safety signage at railroad crossings and the improved visibility of those signs over the years. The decrease in accidents is also due in large part to the work of Operation Lifesaver.

In 1972, when Operation Lifesaver began, there were approximately 12,000 collisions between trains and motor vehicles annually. By 2014, according to preliminary statistics, the number of train/motor vehicle collisions had been reduced by about 81% to 2,286.

Do you know what each of the signs at a railroad crossing means? What about this sign?

Visit our website to get the meaning behind each of the signs you see everyday at railroad crossings and for information on how you can help make railroad crossing safer in your town or city.



Operation Lifesaver has programs in all 50 states. Contact your OL State Coordinator at 1-800-537-6224 for information about free safety presentations, training and volunteer opportunities available in your area.