RAILROAD SAFETY. FRA NEEDS TO CORRECT DEFICIENCIES IN REPORTING INJURIES AND ACCIDENTS
This report assesses the accuracy of injury and accident data reported to the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) by the railroads. Two of the nation's largest freight railroads, CSX Transportation and Union Pacific, the only intercity rail passenger carrier (Amtrak), and two regional carriers, Chicago and North Western Transportation Company and Chicago Central and Pacific Railroad were audited. The five railroads were either (1) underreporting the number of injuries and accidents, (2) understating the number of lost workdays and the estimated cost of damages due to train accidents, or (3) in the case of one railroad, not maintaining sufficient information to determine the accuracy of its reporting. In summary, for 521 unreported injuries and 532 unreported accidents reviewed, 61 injuries and 52 accidents should have been reported to FRA; of the 156 injuries involving lost workdays reported by four of the railroads, the number of lost workdays was underestimated by 269%; and of 171 accident cases analyzed, the estimated cost of damages due to train accidents was understated by 52%, or $3.5 million.
- Record URL:
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Corporate Authors:
U.S. General Accounting Office
441 G Street, NW
Washington, DC United States 20548 - Publication Date: 1989-4
Media Info
- Features: Appendices; Tables;
- Pagination: 36 p.
Subject/Index Terms
- TRT Terms: Accuracy; Crashes; Injuries; Railroads; Reports
- Identifier Terms: U.S. Federal Railroad Administration
- Uncontrolled Terms: Data; Reporting
- Subject Areas: Administration and Management; Highways; Railroads; Safety and Human Factors;
Filing Info
- Accession Number: 00485566
- Record Type: Publication
- Report/Paper Numbers: GAO/RCED-89-109
- Files: TRIS
- Created Date: Jul 31 1989 12:00AM