Traveling by commuter rail and intercity rail is 18 times safer than traveling by automobile.  And PTC is making commuter rail and intercity rail even safer.

For commuter rail operators and the entire public transportation industry, safety is our first priority. Safety is not simply a value we share; it is a core operating principle and a promise to our riders.  Commuter railroads work every day to continuously make safety improvements and constantly re-evaluate safety procedures as well as reinforcing a safety culture with employees.

Commuter and intercity rail have 0.36 passenger fatalities per billion passenger miles, compared with 6.53 passenger fatalities for automobiles or light trucks.  ^citation