Highway-Rail Grade Crossing Safety

In this article the author discusses means of improving railroad safety by preventing railway grade crossing collisions. After explaining the stakes of such incidents, the author recounts how agencies such as the U.S. Department of Transportation, the Federal Railroad Administration), the Federal Highway Administration, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration , the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, and the Federal Transit Administration all contribute to railroad crossing safety. Some of the safety initiatives covered include the generation of clear rules for such crossing, improving technology deployment to reduce risk, increasing enforcement, closing redundant crossings, planning corridors, and increasing public awareness of the risks are all included. The author concludes with a discussion of the future difficulties of improving safety at these crossings.