Rail Crossing Collisions Down in Louisiana

Officials with the Louisiana Highway Safety Commission say collisions at rail crossings in Louisiana fell in 2011from 106 in 2010 to 96 last year.

The Louisiana Operation Lifesaver program also reported that deaths from such incidents fell from 13 to nine. Officials said these improvements were in line with national trends.

The Federal Railroad Administration reports that nationally incidents at public and private crossings fell from 9,461 in 1981 to 1,956 in 2011.

According to statistics released by the Louisiana Operation Lifesaver program, 191 highway rail crashes were reported in northeastern Louisiana between 2007 and 2011. Ouachita Parish led them with 95.