Sacramento, CA August 11, 2015 – California Operation Lifesaver has been awarded a grant from Operation Lifesaver, Inc., (OLI) in partnership with the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) for rail crossing safety public education efforts as part of the nonprofit safety group’s ongoing “See Tracks? Think Train!” public awareness campaign. Federal statistics show that about every three hours, a person or vehicle is hit by a train in the United States.
In 2014, California ranked 3rd nationally for crossing collisions, with 33 deaths and 44 injuries for the 128 incidents that occurred.
The state program will use the funding to spread “See Tracks? Think Train!” safety messages via billboard advertising, transit advertising and participate in community events. The goal is to raise awareness about the dangers near tracks and trains in California.
“This grant allows us to promote the “See Tracks? Think Train!” campaign and further our mission of eliminating collisions, injuries and deaths at highway-rail grade crossings,” said state coordinator, Nancy Sheehan-McCulloch. “We are grateful to the Federal Highway Administration for facilitating this much-needed effort to improve safety in our state.”
Operation Lifesaver offers these rail safety tips for drivers and pedestrians:
- Cross railroad tracks only at a public crossing—designated by lights, gates or crossbuck signs.
- Always yield to trains; you cannot accurately judge the distance and speed of an oncoming train.
- A train can appear on any track at any time – when you see tracks, think train!
About Operation Lifesaver – 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 http://www.oli.org; follow OLI on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Instagram.
Learn more at: http://www.caoperationlifesaver.com; Follow CAOL on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram
