Rail Safety Month: Stay Alert, Stay Safe

September 2, 2021

Riding the rails is an American tradition, and to this day, a passenger train is among the safest modes of transportation around. But rail crossings and railroad tracks continue to pose serious risks to pedestrians and motorists who are distracted, trespassing, or otherwise put themselves in harm’s way. Sadly, California leads the nation in annual fatalities due to grade crossing and trespassing incidents, according to the Federal Railroad Administration. As a result, California has designated the month of September as Rail Safety Month, with reminders to follow these common-sense safety precautions:

• Never walk on or along train tracks; it’s illegal trespassing and highly dangerous.
• Cross-train tracks only at designated pedestrian or roadway crossings and obey all warning signs and signals posted there.
• Stay alert around railroad tracks. Do not use your phone, wear headphones, or let other things distract you and possibly prevent you from hearing an approaching train.

At SBCTA, rail safety is a year-round commitment. In the coming weeks, we will be testing the new state-of-the-art, environmentally friendly Arrow line trains – part of the Redlands Passenger Rail system expected to launch in 2022. Grade crossings and overall system safety are our highest priority, and we encourage you to join us in this commitment. Together, we can make San Bernardino County the gold standard for rail safety.

For additional Rail Safety tips, visit www.caol.us.