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Railroads tend to repair malfunctioning warning lights and gates more quickly if people use a toll-free phone number posted at grade crossings to alert railroads about problems, according to a recent Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) report.

More than 75 percent of crossings with flashing lights and gates, and 60 percent of all public crossings post toll-free emergency phone numbers.

But to improve safety, the phone numbers should be posted at more crossings, the report recommends. In addition, emergency numbers should be posted at private crossings that are heavily used by the public, such as those near shopping centers, industrial parks and residential developments.

“Many grade crossing accidents can be prevented and lives saved when the public knows where to call to report a problem,” said FRA Administrator Joseph Boardman in a prepared statement.

The administration would provide necessary operating software and help identify start-up funding to encourage small roads to jointly establish toll-free emergency call-in systems at crossings that aren’t part of an existing program, the FRA said.

The administration’s report supports the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Highway-Rail Crossing Safety and Trespass Prevention Action Plan, which calls for the implementation of a toll-free emergency notification system at all public crossings.