Case Study

The cascading effect of tragedy

The impact extends far beyond the moment of collision.

A typical morning rush hour in Ottawa, Ontario, turned tragic on September 18, 2013, when a bus went through the lowered railway crossing gates straight into a passenger train. Six people died, and 34 were injured. Sadly, this is a surprisingly frequent occurrence.

The obvious and most horrific part of this type of event is the loss of human life. There is no value that can be placed on that. Then there are the families, first responders, and train crew that have also been exposed to a traumatic situation. Besides the emotional toll, there are the associated costs involved in recovery as well as potential lost income. On the commercial side, manufacturing that relies on just-in-time delivery now must face delayed shipments, reduced productivity, rescheduling of work and costly penalties. Finally, there are the lawsuits.

2024 Statistics Show…

The current approach is not sustainable

Traditional safety measures are costly, limited, and outdated.

The most effective solution would be to eliminate all grade crossings [separating the rail line from the road]. But considering the fact that there are 153,000 public rail crossings between Canada and the U.S., and the cost to eliminate just one crossing is $40 million, this is not economically feasible for any jurisdiction. The other current safety measures, such as flashing lights ($30,000) or flashing lights and gates ($150,000), are primarily installed in urban locations since rural areas simply do not have the tax base to support these expenditures. This leaves most crossings without an active warning signal.

Disruptive technology that can prevent tragedy and is cost-effective

When a locomotive engineer sees a vehicle on the track, it’s already too late. At 55 mph, it can take a mile or more to stop a train after the emergency brakes have been applied. And at 200 tons, the result is nothing short of devastating. Even with flashing lights and bells, often road conditions are poor with reduced visibility due to intense fog, blinding snow or torrential rain.

To reduce collisions, a wireless receiver/transmitter methodology is employed at the level crossing, alerting the driver that a train is approaching. The alert would be received by the vehicle’s audio system or the centre monitor panel — giving clear and ample warning of impending danger. This has the potential to save hundreds of lives.

The facts are staggering…

In Canada, there are just over 17,000 public rail crossings—17% have gates, 22% just have bells and lights, and the remaining 61% have a white, reflective X crossing sign, which at times is accompanied by a stop sign.

In the U.S., the Federal Highway Administration’s (FHWA) latest figures (2009) indicate there are 136,041 public rail crossings—31% have gates, 16% have flashing lights, and 1% have highway traffic signals, wigwags and bells. The remaining 52% have a yellow and black crossbuck.

Do active warning devices at crossings help?

Approximately 50% of vehicle/train collisions occur at crossings with active warning devices (gates, lights, bells).

U.S. – Collisions/ Fatalities and Injuries

Year	Collisions	Fatalities	Injuries
2014	2296	262	871
2015	2080	237	1047
2016	2050	255	853
2017	2124	271	848
2018	2233	258	848
2019	2231	293	839
2020	1906	196	694
2021	2131	237	653

Canada – Collisions/ Fatalities and Injuries

Year	Collisions	Fatalities	Injuries
2014	2296	262	871
2015	2080	237	1047
2016	2050	255	853
2017	2124	271	848
2018	2233	258	848
2019	178	28	31
2020	129	18	12
2021	*	*	*

* Data not available at time of update

Our Solution

A Train Early Detection System

TEDS (Train Early Detection System) is an innovative app designed to enhance driver safety near railway tracks. It serves as an advanced early warning system that detects when a vehicle is approaching a railway level crossing and sends timely push notifications to alert the driver, helping prevent potential accidents and ensuring safer journeys.

The app uses advanced GPS technology to track the precise location of the driver, providing real-time information that can help them stay safe.