Union Pacific Marks Rail Safety Week in Texas, Flagging Risky Crossing Behavior

The news team was in the locomotive cab for less than 10 minutes in southwest Houston before they witnessed a motorist ignoring the safety lights and driving around descending safety arms at a crossing.

“It’s one of the most observed violations we see, along with people stopping their vehicles on the tracks,” shared Chris Cordary, the Union Pacific special agent in the cab with the reporter and cameraman.

As part of “See Tracks? Think Train Week” – formerly known as Rail Safety Week – Union Pacific held two UP CARES events in Texas, partnering with the Houston Police Department, Texas Highway Patrol, Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office and Montgomery County Constable Precinct 4 office to issue citations or warnings to motorists violating traffic laws at railroad crossings.

“Safety initiatives often start with great partnerships. UP CARES is about bringing together local law enforcement agencies, communities and Union Pacific to make rail crossings safer – one enforcement stop at a time,” said Cordary.

One interesting crossing tidbit: so far this year, 14% of crossing incidents involved vehicles hitting Union Pacific trains.

The first event was held in southwest Houston Sept. 16; the second was held the following day in the Porter/New Caney area north of Houston. In all, 107 motorists were stopped during the two events and issued citations or warnings.

UP CARES – the railroad’s long-running Crossing Accident Reduction Education and Safety program – partners Union Pacific employees with local law enforcement agencies to promote rail safety at crossings and near railroad tracks. Officers ride inside the locomotive, observe motorist behavior at crossings, and dispatch nearby officers to stop the vehicles and remind community members about rail-related traffic laws.

Four television stations were invited to participate in the Houston event and help share key safety reminders with their viewers.