September Rail Safety Month – California Operation Lifesaver Promotes Rail Safety Awareness
Sacramento, CA., August 31, 2016 – The California State Legislature proclaimed September as Rail Safety Month in August 2009. Ranking number one in trespass casualties and number two in grade crossing incidents in the United States, there is a need to grow rail safety education.
California Operation Lifesaver (CAOL), a rail safety education group, provides free safety presentations for motorists and pedestrians throughout the state. Nancy Sheehan, the California Operation Lifesaver State Coordinator, emphasized that rail safety is something all Californians should take seriously.
In 2015, there were 145 Trespass Casualties including 98 Fatalities, almost an 8% increase in fatalities since 2014. The number of Grade crossing incidents rose 15.6% during that same time frame.
Sheehan shared that about every 3 hours, a person or vehicle is hit by a train. Operation Lifesaver is working to change people’s behavior around railroad tracks and crossings with their national public awareness campaign, See Tracks? Think Train!
“These trespass and grade crossing incidents have devastating effects on families and communities. As a part of Operation Lifesaver’s mission to reduce deaths and injuries around trains, we urge the public to follow the laws, obey the signs and signals, never walk on the tracks and avoid distractions near railroad tracks” said Sheehan.
California Operation Lifesaver’s team of volunteers work to raise rail safety awareness all year long through presentations and participation in events statewide. During September Rail Safety Month CAOL volunteers will grow the message with presentations to schools, law enforcement, community groups and more.
During rail safety month CAOL will run a Billboard Ad campaign focused on raising trespass awareness utilizing an Operation Lifesaver/Federal Railroad Administration grant. The 30 Billboards will run in both English and Spanish in Los Angeles and Riverside counties.
Simultaneously, utilizing an Operation Lifesaver/Federal Highway Administration grant, CAOL will run a digital ad campaign focused on Grade Crossing Safety awareness. The digital ads will run at major sporting events at professional sports venues across the state.
More rail safety awareness efforts will be made possible as California Operation Lifesaver joins their Rail Safety Partners to participate in special safety train, media, and city/county events.
“The public, the media, and statewide local communities can help raise awareness and grow the message by avoiding dangerous behavior around railroad tracks.
We urge the public to Share the See Tracks? Think Train! message with family, friends and in their communities. We all need to work together to save lives!” said Sheehan.
For more information or to request a free safety presentation, visit: www.caoperationlifesaver.com or www.oli.
Operation Lifesaver’s mission is to end collisions, deaths and injuries at highway-rail grade crossings and along railroad rights of way. A national network of trained volunteers provides free presentations on rail safety. Learn more at [state website URL, Facebook or Twitter link] or at http://www.oli.org.
