June 2004

Welcome to Operation Lifesaver’s June 2004 online report published for our volunteers scattered across the United States (and read by our friends in Canada, Mexico and Britain). It focuses on upcoming events and tells about new materials and tools soon to be available to help State Coordinators, Presenters and Trainers alike. You will find additional stories and photos by clicking the links. You can also respond to us at medwards@oli.org.

Marmie T. Edwards, APR, CAE
Vice President, Communications

Featured Article

Aidan Nelson, UK Railway Safety Director Applies OL in Building British Program
Speaking at Symposium 5/12/04

Aidan Nelson’s day job is as Director, Policy and Standards, English Railway Safety. But in order to provide safe passage for the nation’s riders, the British also must consider railway crime—luggage theft, robberies, route crime, such as stone throwing and criminal damage primarily by youths.

In the United Kingdom (UK) more than half the population travels by rail in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland at least once a year. That means some 30 million people have the potential to be victims of crime on the 22,000 miles of track in the railway network. The National Route Crime Group, which combine the study of trespassing and vandalism on the tracks, prepared a paper “Developing and delivering a national strategy to tackle route crime in Britain.”

Dan Di Tota, National Director, Canada’s Operation Lifesaver, and OL’s President Gerri Hall took the new OL exhibit to England for the safety seminar, which drew 160 delegates from 26 countries.

Ms. Hall spoke about the Grade Crossing Collision Investigation course at the “Eighth International Level Crossing Symposium and Managing Trespass Seminar” in Sheffield, England on April 13. Aidan is scheduled to speak at the 13th International Education & Training Symposium in San Antonio July 11-14.

Britain’s 4 Es
Their research found that there were 27 million cases of trespass each year, of which 10 million are committed by children aged between 10 and 16. They found an increase in criminal activity with the onset of British Summer Time and worse problems occur during school holidays at Easter and throughout the summer.

To address this problem the National Task Force sponsored the creation of a national group to co-coordinate the industry’s response to the risks posed. The group drawn from the industry is known as the National Route Crime Group (NRCG). Their approach is based on the 4Es—Enabling, Education, Engineering and Enforcement. Don’t miss this session during the Symposium on Monday, July 12. Aidan Nelson will discuss the UK’s adaptation of the North American OL program for trespass prevention. He will also address the UK’s efforts to tackle suicide on the rails. In the meantime, you can take a look at the English website at www.trackoff.org.

More Pictures from OLI

Oregon gets OL Message Around During OL Week by Trailer
Retired Oregon State Police Sergeant Curt Curtis staffed the Oregon OL trainer for the re-dedication of the Lebanon, OR Train Depot May 15.

California Uses the Lawn At the Amtrak Station
Steve Ceballos of Pittsburg, California, gives a presentation to a Scout troop at the Amtrak Station in Martinez, CA. He is to be named Northern (CA) Region Chair, responsible for the upper portion of the state.

Come Learn the Meaning of “Cowboy Up” We promise you won’t leave Texas after the Symposium without understanding cowboys just a little bit better. Learn more Rail Safety for EMS Workers : New Course for 1st Responders This new course alerts responders to their own personal safety needs while driving across the railroad crossing and working in the vicinity of trains. Learn more Ohio Enforcement Blitz Monitors 29 Intersections, Partners with 7 PDs, OHSP Possibly the largest rail enforcement effort in Ohio history took place May 12 in partnership with the Wheeling & Lake Erie Railroad, which runs through Canton and Akron. Learn more To Celebrate OL Week NYOL Ran Special Train: Rensselaer to Saratoga Michael H. Zurlo, a Saratoga County sheriff’s investigator who has handled several railroad fatalities, said, “They’re difficult for both the families and the engineers. This (ride-along) is good because it gives you an idea what it’s like for them.” Learn more Take Me Out to the Ballgame This near-summer event May 14, gave the Mid-Atlantic OL crew a chance to thank their veteran performers and to enjoy the game together. Learn more Estonian Presenters Trained in Kansas City The two-day training at the BNSF Technical Training facility brought together a variety of OL trainers. Learn more Maryland Hits Critical Areas With Station Blitzes, Training Community parents, police, railroad safety managers and Baltimore resident Alvin Richardson, who is Amtrak’s liaison to Operation Lifesaver, got together to prevent another child from being hit by a train. Learn more

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Contact Operation Lifesaver:
1420 King Street, Suite 401
Alexandria, Virginia 22314
(703) 739-0308
(800) 537-6224
Email:general@oli.org