Operation Lifesaver's New Safety Brochure Has Safety Tips for All Types of Passenger Trains

05/14/2008

Alexandria, VA, May 14, 2008 – Operation Lifesaver (OL), North America’s rail safety education program, unveiled a new safety brochure that for the first time offers passenger rail safety tips for all types of passenger trains – from subway cars to high-speed trains.

“This new effort reinforces the light rail safety program we have undertaken with the Federal Transit Administration, and underscores our new partnership with transit agencies across the country,” said Helen Sramek, president of Operation Lifesaver, Inc.

For almost forty years, Operation Lifesaver has worked to educate drivers and pedestrians about how to navigate safely around train tracks and railroad properties. As an increasing number of commuter and light rail systems open up – often operating on-street or in shared traffic lanes with automobiles – a new education challenge is also emerging for residents and visitors to those cities.

“Operation Lifesaver is meeting that challenge through collaborative efforts with transportation departments and transit agencies,” said Sramek.

The new brochure offers tips including how to navigate safely around passenger rail tracks and trains, how to be safe onboard trains, and how to be safe at stations and on platforms.  Sramek noted that in addition to the brochure, state Operation Lifesaver offices in conjunction with local transit agencies have introduced new ads and public service announcements featuring local sports celebrities, bilingual outreach in Spanish and Chinese, video contests for transit riders, and railroad safety training not only for rail transit employees but also for their counterparts in bus transit operations.

Other new developments this year by Operation Lifesaver nationally include a driver’s education video, a youth-oriented 11-minute video aimed at middle-school students, and outreach in a variety of languages.

For more information about how to order copies of the new brochure, please contact Isabel Kaldenbach, ikaldenbach@oli.org.

About Operation Lifesaver

Operation Lifesaver’s mission is to end collisions, deaths and injuries at highway-rail grade crossings and on rail property through a nationwide network of volunteers who work to educate people about rail safety. For more information, log on to www.oli.org