Every second counts when it comes to safety. The U.S. Department of Transportation reports that over 5,800 accidents occur each year near railroad crossings, leading to 600 deaths and 2,300 injuries.
How do we stop these accidents from happening? Learn the answer to that question during 2023 Rail Safety Week, September 18-24.
The purpose of Rail Safety Week is to educate pedestrians, bicyclists, and drivers about unsafe behavior. Together, we can save lives by empowering the public to make safer decisions around tracks and trains.
UTA TRAX Operator Juliana Brine, shares her thoughts and tips for staying safe: “Every day I drive the train, I continuously have to be on alert. I see people running in front of the train, going around the gates, crossing when red lights are flashing, and looking at their phones near railroads. We need people to stop being distracted and follow these eight simple safety rules.”
8 Simple Safety Rules
Rail Safety Week Agenda
Juliana and UTA are also partnering with Utah Operation Lifesaver, UDOT, Utah Department of Public Safety (DPS), Utah Highway Patrol, Salt Lake City Police, Utah Trucking Association, and Tooele Technical College to educate drivers, pedestrians, and bicyclists during Rail Safety Week. Here are just a few activities you will see along Utah’s Wasatch Front this September 18-24.
Good Morning Monday — September 18
UTA and our partners will kick off the week with a press conference at 10 a.m. at Salt Lake Central Station Plaza to educate people about rail safety. Speakers will include UTA Chief Operating Officer Cherryl Beveridge; Utah Operation Lifesaver State Coordinator Vern Keeslar; UDOT, Rail Division Director Brad Palmer; Director, DPS Utah Highway Safety Office Robyn LaLumia; and Utah Highway Patrol Sergeant Cameron Roden.
Clear the Track Tuesday — September 19
UTA Police, Salt Lake City Police, and Utah Highway Patrol will be educating drivers and pedestrians about rail safety at the Midvale Fort Union Station, Central Pointe Station, and Provo Central Station crossings.
Welcome Wednesday — September 20
Utah Operation Lifesaver will be welcoming all the new truck drivers from Tooele Technical College into Rail Safety Week with Safety in Seconds Training. The goal is to educate new truck drivers on safety rules near railroads
Transit Thursday — September 21
UTA and our partners will be at the North Temple Station from 4-6 p.m. to hand out Safety in Seconds brochures, water bottles, key chains, and pens. The goal is to educate pedestrians on the 8 Simple Safety rules.
Football Friday — September 22
We will be at the following high schools during school and the football games to educate youth about the importance of railroad safety:
- Kearns High School
- West High School
- Woods Cross Elementary
- West Bountiful Elementary
- Lehi High School
- Meadow Elementary (Lehi)
- Independence High School (Provo)
- Freedom Preparatory Middle School (Provo)
- Freedom Preparatory High School (Provo)
- Juab High School (Nephi)
Social Saturday & Sunday — September 23-24
Staying safe near railroads is the responsibility of each one of us. The key to staying safe is sharing with others the safety rules you use as you walk, ride your bike, or drive your car each day. We want you to share those ideas with the rest of the world. We will have a variety of prizes available for those who share posts on social media. Here’s how it works:
- Safely take a picture at any railroad crossing or station
- Post that picture on any of our social channels:
- The Rail Safety team will choose multiple gift card winners