The Federal Railroad Administration says 10 states account for more than half the rail crossing accidents nationally and it wants those numbers reduced.
But Ohio, seventh on that list - has steadily lowered the number of accidents, according to a just released state report that studied accidents from 1998-2008.
Stu Nicholson is the spokesman for the Ohio Rail Commission. He says the state will comply with the order, but is already active in upgrading and eliminating sites where cars or pedestrians can contact trains.
STU NICHOLSON:"We've got over 6300 grade crossings, but we've been able to put new lights and gates at over half of those. We've also undertaken a fairly aggressive grade crossing closure program."
The mandated improvements will not use any of cash-strapped Ohio's funding, as federal money provides for upgrades.
But with 57-hundred miles of track criss-crossing the state, Nicholson says nothing beats education for reducing accidents.
NICHOLSON: "The biggest problem that we've got right now at grade crossings is people that still drive around the lights and gates when they're operating."
....accounting for more than half Ohio's accidents, fatalities, and injuries - every year. The federal order for planned improvements must be completed by next summer.
