BILL ANALYSIS

Senate Research Center	H.C.R. 49
85R20085 KSM-D	By: Anderson, Charles "Doc" (Hughes)
	Administration
	5/17/2017
	Engrossed

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

Train safety is a vital issue that affects all Texans, and promoting awareness of correct safety procedures around railroads can potentially save many lives.

The Texas Department of Insurance reports that a train hits someone in the United States every 115 minutes, often with fatal results, and the nonprofit Operation Lifesaver calculates that an average of nearly 1,200 Americans are killed or injured each year on highway-rail grade crossings. According to the Federal Railroad Administration, in 2015, Texas led the nation in highway-rail grade collisions with 224 such incidents and suffered 42 pedestrian rail trespass injuries and 27 pedestrian rail trespass fatalities, the second most of any state.

An average train consisting of 100 cars can weigh 12 million pounds and can take up to one mile to halt after first applying its brakes. Because the average weight ratio of a train to a car is 4,000 to 1, collisions between the two usually result in tragedy for motor vehicle drivers, and a motorist is 20 times more likely to die in a train/vehicle collision than in a collision with another vehicle.

It is important to always use caution near railroad crossings, including slowing down, looking both ways, yielding to flashing lights and other signals, and keeping a safe distance from the railroad when stopped. Train safety is equally important for pedestrians, and the only safe and legal place to cross railroad tracks is at a designated pedestrian or roadway crossing.

It is imperative that motorists and pedestrians throughout the Lone Star State better understand the dangers that exist around railroads and the necessity of following proper train safety practices.

RESOLVED

That the 85th Legislature of the State of Texas hereby designate July as Train Safety Awareness Month.

That in accordance with the provisions of Section 391.004(d), Government Code, this designation remain in effect until the 10th anniversary of the date this resolution is finally passed by the legislature.