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Newly released preliminary data from the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) shows the number of highway-rail grade crossing injuries and fatalities dropped to record lows in 2009, according to Operation Lifesaver Inc. (OLI). Crossing-related injuries dropped 28.3 percent to 683 and crossing fatalities declined 14.2 percent to 289 compared with 2008 figures.

Although decreases in vehicular and freight-rail traffic contributed to the year-over-year declines, the data shows law enforcement efforts, highway-rail engineering and signaling improvements, crossing closures, and OLI’s partnerships with federal, state and local agencies to raise safety awareness are working, said OLI President Helen Sramek in a prepared statement.

Meanwhile, the number of crossing collisions fell below 2,000 for the first time, tumbling 21.9 percent from 2008’s level to 1,880. In addition, trespassing injuries dropped from 429 in 2008 to 338 in 2009, and trespassing fatalities decreased from 458 to 434.

“Few people realize that … a person or a vehicle is hit by a train about every three hours,” said Sramek. “Although the FRA numbers indicate a 5.2 percent drop in trespassing fatalities in 2009, it's important to remember that trespassers still account for the largest number of rail-related fatalities in the United States.”