Safety Advisory 2025-02; Track Is Clear Determination During Shoving or Pushing Movements Across Highway-Rail Grade Crossings Equipped Only With Flashing Lights or Passive Warning Devices (Supplement)

On December 12, 2025, in response to a series of accidents involving operations requiring crew members to make "track is clear" determinations before shoving or pushing movements across highway-rail grade crossings (crossings) equipped only with flashing lights or passive warning devices, FRA published Safety Advisory 2025-02. Since publication, two additional accidents have occurred under similar circumstances, resulting in one fatality and one severe injury. FRA is issuing this Notice to provide details of these recent accidents, to reinforce the existing recommendations in Safety Advisory 2025-02, and to add two recommendations. Specifically, this notice adds recommendations 5 and 6, which recommend railroads conduct in-person briefings with all operating employees performing or overseeing shoving or pushing movements and review and evaluate internal instruction, training, and examination programs for such employees.

This is a factual description of what was issued or decided, not an assessment of it.