Rail-Trespasser Fatalities

Developing Demographic Profiles

Who?

•Project funded by FederalRailroad Administration

•Contractor: Cadle CreekConsulting

•Medical Examiners andCoroners

•Operation Lifesaver, Inc.

Why?

•500+ Rail-TrespassFatalities Annually

Fatalities by State(raw data) Most to LeastLeast

Fatalities by State(Normalized by Population) Most to LeastLeast

Fatalities by State(Normalized by Track Miles) Most to LeastLeast

Goal

•Obtain additional information not reportedto FRA.

•Develop a database sufficient formarketing analysis, i.e., 1,000+ addressesnationwide.

•Marketing analysis would providedemographic information which could beused to direct educational efforts.

Steps

•Obtain OMB Approval of Data Collection Form

FRA F6180.117 (5/04)OMB No. 2130-0563

•Top: FRA Data –State;County; Date; Time;Railroad; Location;Circumstance;Decedent’s Age.

•Below Line: Data to becollected –Gender;Ethnicity; Race; HomeAddress; Alcohol and/orDrugs; Type of Incident.

Steps

•OMB approved Form•Preprint 1,523 forms w/2002-2004 data•Compile CME and Coroner list•Prepare packages for mailing

–Preprinted Forms–FRA Explanatory Letter–LOT from CCC–Return, self-addressed, stamped, envelope

The Letters

FRA’s Explanatory Letter –“After gathering and processingthe data, Cadle Creek Consulting will release to FRAonly generalized, statistical, summary reports.”

CCC’s LOT –“The additional data that you provide … willbe used only by Cadle Creek Consulting to compilegeneralized, statistical, summary reports. … CadleCreek Consulting will not release the raw data that youprovide to FRA. We intend to maintain the confidentialityof this requested information.”

When?

•Mailings startedOctober 3, 2005.

•Last mailing wasMarch 29, 2006.

•471 packages weremailed or re-mailed.

Response

•279 jurisdictions returned forms (59%)•1,056 forms returned (69%)•106 forms returned as “No Record”

Responding JurisdictionsBlue –YesRed -- No

Response

•Only 653 had a complete address

•Another 90 had zip code only

•15 had foreign addresses

•87 listed as “homeless”or “transient”

Demographics -- Age

•Corrected median age 37 years, versus 36from FRA’s raw railroad data

•Considers 138 entries where coronersreported a different age and 81 wherecoroners provided an age and the rawdata had none.

•U.S. population median age, 36 a/o 2004

Age: Trespasser Fatalitiesvs. U.S. Population

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Trespasser Fatalities U.S. Population

Demographics –Gender

Male, 811,87%

Female,124, 13%

Male Female

Demographics –GenderU.S. Population

•Female: 149.1 million (50.8%)

•Male: 144.5 million (49.2%)

a/o July 1, 2004

Demographics –Ethnicity

Hispanic,152, 18%

Other, 694,82%

Hispanic Other

Demographics –EthnicityU.S. Population

Hispanic13%

Other87%

Hispanic Other

Demographics –RaceAM5% BL

16%

WH78%

Asian1%

AM BL WH Asian

Demographics –RaceU.S. Population

AM1%

BL12%

WH75%

Asian4%

Other8%

AM BL WH Asian Other

Demographics -- Gender by AgeFemale Fatalities vs US Population

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Demographics -- Gender by AgeMale Fatalities vs US Population

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Demographics –Gender by AgePercent of Fatalities, Male vs Female

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Demographics –Gender byEthnicity and Race

37638129152Total

30553114137Male

7851515Female

NativeAmericanWhiteBlackHispanic

Alcohol and/or Drugs

929N/AN/A530Totals

4639229477Drugs

4669627496Both

463799357Alcohol

TotalsUnknownNoYes

Alcohol and/or Drugs57% Involved Drugs and/or Alcohol

Drugs173

Alcohol453

Type of Incident

•Question: What was deceased doing or tryingto do, e.g., getting on or off train, sleeping,walking, on a trail, hunting, riding ATV, etc?

Type of Incident

Responses included:Walking, Standing on Track 218Sleeping, Laying, Reclining, Sitting 186Walking / Running Across Track 62Automobile / Truck 24Outside Gauge (walking or standing) 20Riding or getting on or off train 46ATV, Dirt Bike, Snowmobile, etc.: 18Bridge or Trestle: 13Alzheimer's: 8

Type of Incident

Suicides

BY FRA RULE, ARE NOT REQUIRED TO BEREPORTED, HOWEVER,

Word “Suicide”or “Intentional”used 167 times bycoroners.

Based on their responses, suicide was “probable”in my opinion an additional 49 times.

Suicides among Trespassers

Confirmed,167, 18%

Probable, 49,5%

Other Deaths,719, 77%

Suicides by Gender and Age

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Summary

•Goal: Develop a database sufficient formarketing analysis, i.e., 1,000+ addressesnationwide.

•Not achieved, but this was a “pilot study.”935 usable records, but only 741 withaddress info.

•Demonstrates usefulness of additionaldata.

Summary

•Useful data so far:

–Gender split (13% vs. 87%)–Hispanic presence (18%)–Racial diversity

•(Asian –1.5%, AM –4.5%, BL –15.8%, WH –78.2%)

–Prevalence of alcohol or drugs•(57%, 29.5% clean)

–The suicide factor (at least 23%).

Summary

•FRA opted to go ahead with a nationalmarketing analysis.

•Potential –realize generic info re targethouseholds, e.g., education, employment,economics, entertainment and shoppingpreferences, etc.

•This effort was subcontracted to ESRI.

Market AnalysisConcept and Terminology

•Goal: Define a Target Group or Groups.

•Based on addresses, collectively describe–Households and neighborhoods from which

trespassers originate;–Life styles and life stages within those

households and neighborhoods.

Market Analysis Demographics

•Age –Trespasser ages were higher in themiddle age (25-44) than the Target Group.

•Racial and Ethnic Diversity –Target Groupreflects well the survey findings.

Market AnalysisTarget Group Socioeconomics

•82.2% Urban•10% Unemployed a/o 2006•15.3% below poverty level (v 12.4% Nat'l)•27.6% working women (v 57% Nat'l)•Median HH income in 2006, $36,000•25.4% w/o HS diploma (v 20% Nat'l)•Average commute: 25.8 minutes

Market AnalysisNeighborhood Descriptors

•65 neighborhood types are defined byESRI. (Trespassers originated from all butone -- High Rise Renters).

•Two types are of specific interest–Home Town (34 fatals, 4.6% v 1.5% of US

HHs)–Industrious Urban Fringe (28, 3.8% v 1.5%)

Market AnalysisNeighborhood: Home Town

•Enjoy urban amenities (nightclubs, bars,movies, museums, zoos).

•Use internet for e-mail and games.•Primary communication is by phone.•Subscribe to daily paper and watch CNN,

Fox News, Discovery and movie channels.•Shop at discount stores (e.g., Wal-Mart)

Market AnalysisNeighborhood: Industrious Urban Fringe

•Budgets carefully balanced, mortgage first.•Shop at discount stores (e.g., Wal-Mart).•Many have two phone lines and services.•Many have pets (dogs).•Enjoy movies at home and in theaters.•Radio and TV used more than print media,

especially Hispanic stations.

Market Analysis

ESRI defines multiple combinations of the65 neighborhood types called–Urbanization Groups–Life Mode GroupsProject’s final report describes some of these

relevant combinations and offers alternativeways to expand and focus outreach efforts.

See www.esribis.com or call 1-800-292-2224and ask for a Community Tapestry Handbook.

QUESTIONS?

Bruce F. George443 203 6900

bfjegeorge@comcast.net