Grade Crossing Awareness

CSX is committed to safety in the communities served by our rail network.

Approximately every 2 hours somewhere in the United States, a vehicle and train collide at a highway-rail intersection. A freight train moving at 55 miles an hour can take a mile or more to stop – that's the equivalent of nearly 18 football fields. With 5.3 million new drivers every year in CSX's service territory, grade-crossing safety awareness is important for everyone.

Employees work year-round to improve grade-crossing safety:

  • CSX works to improve grade crossings equipped with passive warning signs (i.e., cross bucks), with a program to clear-cut trees and vegetation to give motorists a better view as they approach tracks.
  • CSX was the first railroad in the United States to adopt a system-wide crossing-sign program. Identification signs are posted at every crossing on CSX's system, enabling emergency personnel and all drivers to quickly and accurately report vehicles stalled on a crossing, which enables the railroad to take action to prevent an accident.
  • CSX uses highly visible advertising campaigns to raise public awareness of the potential hazards of grade crossings and of trespassing on rail property.

Operation Lifesaver

CSX strongly believes in public-safety outreach and works closely with Operation Lifesaver, an education-and-awareness organization dedicated to ending collisions, fatalities and injuries at highway-rail grade crossings and railroad rights-of-way.

Community groups, children, school bus drivers, and others learn the importance of staying away from railroad property and obeying safety warning signs at crossings.

Operation Lifesaver's certified volunteers provide free safety presentations for people of all professions and age groups to help them make safe decisions around tracks and trains.

Learn more at www.oli.org 

Common Sense

In 2009, CSX, along with Operation Lifesaver, the U.S. Department of Transportation and other railroads, helped launch Common Sense, a public-awareness campaign that educates the public about the risks of trespassing on railroad property. See ads, videos, safety tips and other information at www.CommonSenseUseIt.com .

Better Safe

In 2010, CSX launched a campaign to further amplify the important messages disseminated by Operation Lifesaver. CSX’s campaign, called Better Safe, aims to raise awareness among motorists and pedestrians about the potential danger of railroad crossings and walking on railroad tracks. The campaign uses Internet messaging, billboards and high-profile events. Better Safe targets the 18-to 34-year-old age group that accounts for the most crossing and trespassing casualties.