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

Virginia Rail Safety Month

WHEREAS, the Commonwealth of Virginia ranks nineteenth in the United States for miles of rails with 3,000 miles across the Commonwealth; and, 

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

WHEREAS, more than 2,100 highway-rail grade crossing collisions occurred in the United States in 2021, resulting in 236 fatalities and 666 injuries; and, 

WHEREAS, more than 50% of collisions occur at crossings equipped with lights and/or gates; and, 

WHEREAS, highway-rail grade crossing collision and pedestrian trespass on tracks together account for over 95% of all railroad fatalities; and, 

WHEREAS, Federal Railroad Administration statistics rank the Commonwealth of Virginia thirteenth in highway-rail grade crossing collisions in the United States; and, 

WHEREAS, it is in the public's interest to raise citizens' awareness of the dangers of ignoring safety warnings at level crossing 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 2022 as VIRGINIA RAIL SAFETY MONTH in the COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA and call this observance to the attention of our citizens.