85R7571 RMA-D
	By: Anderson of McLennan	H.C.R. No. 49

	CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
	WHEREAS, Train safety is a vital issue that affects all
	Texans, and promoting awareness of correct safety procedures around
	railroads can potentially save many lives; and
	WHEREAS, 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 2,000 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
	some 69 pedestrian rail trespass casualties, the second most of any
	state; and
	WHEREAS, A locomotive can take up to one mile to halt after
	first applying its brakes, and 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; 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; and
	WHEREAS, 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; now, therefore, be it
	RESOLVED, That the 85th Legislature of the State of Texas
	hereby designate July as Train Safety Awareness Month; and, be it
	further
	RESOLVED, 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.