Virginia Rail Safety Month

By virtue of the authority vested by the Constitution of Virginia in the Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia, there is hereby officially recognized:

WHEREAS, the Commonwealth of Virginia ranks nineteenth in the United States for miles of rails with 3,200 miles across the Commonwealth; and

WHEREAS, every three hours in the United States a person or vehicle is hit by a train; and

WHEREAS, nearly 2,200 highway-rail grade crossing collisions occurred in the United States in 2023, resulting in 247 fatalities and 757 injuries; and

WHEREAS, more than 60% of collisions occur at crossings equipped with lights and/or gates; and

WHEREAS, over 96% of all railroad fatalities occur from highway-rail grade crossing collisions and pedestrians trespassing on tracks; and

WHEREAS, the Commonwealth of Virginia has had a significant decrease in highway-rail grade crossing collisions ranking 26^th in the United States down from 13^th in 2021; and

WHEREAS, it is important for citizens to be aware of the dangers of ignoring safety warnings at level crossings and trespassing on rail property to reduce avoidable deaths, injuries, and damage caused by incidents involving trains and citizens;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Glenn Youngkin, do hereby recognize September 2024, as VIRGINIA RAIL SAFETY MONTH in the COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA, and I call this observance to the attention of all our citizens.

Governor of Virginia

Proclamations