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U.S. Rail Safety Week


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#1 CNJRoss

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Posted 13 September 2017 - 07:14 PM

Operation Lifesaver news release:

 
Operation Lifesaver Inc., offers preview of U.S. Rail Safety Week events

 

 

Washington, D.C. (September 13, 2017) As the first U.S. Rail Safety Week (RSW), September 24-30 approaches, Operation Lifesaver, Inc. (OLI) President and CEO Bonnie Murphy previewed the event’s planned activities, key sponsors and information on how potential participants can learn more. The goal of RSW is to raise awareness for pedestrians and drivers on ways they can keep themselves safe around railroad tracks and at highway-rail grade crossings.

 

Preliminary government data for 2016 show 1,104 people were killed or injured in vehicle-train collisions, and that an additional 980 people were injured or killed while walking on or near railroad tracks.

 

“We are grateful for the positive response from our rail safety partners across the U.S. as activities for Rail Safety Week have been planned,” said OLI President and CEO Bonnie Murphy. “We look forward to a successful RSW, with the help of our partners in law enforcement, federal, state and local government, the rail industry other community safety advocates.”

 

Rail Safety Week will include radio and digital public service advertising campaigns, along with a number of local activities in states across the country, Murphy said. Rail Safety Week is supported by the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), Federal Transit Administration (FTA), state Operation Lifesaver programs, the Association of American Railroads (AAR), freight railroads, Amtrak, and other safety partners.

 

Murphy outlined the major events that will take place across the country each day during U.S. Rail Safety Week, including:

  • Tuesday, September 26 will feature “Operation Clear Track,” where local, state, federal and railroad police will be stationed at the top railroad grade crossing and/or trespassing incident locations in states around the country to hand out safety materials to motorists and pedestrians, and issue warnings and citations to those violating state laws.
  • Wednesday, September 27 will focus on crossing safety, with events and ads to promote awareness of the Emergency Notification System (ENS) signs posted near all railroad crossings. The signs have an 800-number to call to report vehicles stuck on the tracks, signal malfunctions or other issues.
  • Thursday, September 28 will be “Transit Safety Thursday,” with events at transit, light rail and commuter rail stations and a digital ad campaign.
  • Friday, September 29 will focus on trespass prevention, with Operation Lifesaver urging students, employees, and others to participate in “red out for rail safety awareness” by wearing red. Operation Lifesaver volunteers will be at sporting events and other activities to distribute materials and trespass prevention safety tips.
  • Saturday, September 30 will celebrate “community connections” with safety blitzes and other awareness events in communities across the U.S.

“We thank our RSW Champions at the FRA, FHWA, FTA and Amtrak, along with our RSW Partners, the DuPage Railroad Safety Council, and Allies, the National Safety Council,” Murphy said.

 

Additional organizations are welcome to sponsor, Murphy noted, by visiting https://oli.org/abou...ews/sponsorship

 

Visit the Operation Lifesaver website to learn more about Rail Safety Week events, find materials, and learn how you can become part of the Rail Safety Week team.

 

Tweetables:

#USRailSafetyWeek is coming! Check out the schedule and share graphics to help spread the word. http://bit.ly/2h3GZuW

A preview of #USRailSafetyWeek from @olinational http://bit.ly/2fib1ex

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#2 Sloan

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Posted 14 September 2017 - 06:52 AM

Somewhat related to the above is this well-put editorial from Railway Age.

 

 

 

Kill your boxcar ad, Subaru!

 

On Sunday, Sept. 3, at approximately 2:30 a.m., Lindsey Marie Michaels, 21, a junior at Carlow University in Pittsburgh, Pa., and her boyfriend climbed onto a slow-moving Norfolk Southern coal train. Lindsey was killed when she fell under the train. Her boyfriend also fell off the train, but he survived with an injured ankle.

http://www.railwayag...html?channel=00



#3 CNJRoss

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Posted 22 September 2017 - 07:06 AM

UPRR news release:

 
Union Pacific Celebrates Rail Safety Week in Communities

Omaha, Neb., September 21, 2017

 

Union Pacific will celebrate U.S. Rail Safety Week as part of its continued efforts to educate the public about staying safe near rail operations in its communities, Sept. 24-30, 2017. Outreach events are scheduled during the first national observance week designated by the U.S. Department of Transportation and Operation Lifesaver, a nonprofit rail safety education organization. Union Pacific will host Crossing Accident Reduction, Education and Safety (UPCARES) events with law enforcement officers who monitor driver behavior at railroad crossings from inside a Union Pacific locomotive.

 

“Rail Safety Week participation will help raise awareness about the importance of drivers and pedestrians using caution anytime they approach railroad crossings," said Rod Doerr, Union Pacific vice president - Safety. "We care about our communities and urge everyone to slow down, look both ways and stop for approaching trains to prevent accidents."

 

Union Pacific launched a digital and social media public railroad safety campaign with videos addressing risky behavior on Facebook, YouTube, Hulu and online news sites. Two interactive videos follow hurried drivers tempted to beat trains and ask viewers to choose the ending by choosing ‘cross’ or ‘don’t cross.’ Watch and share Union Pacific’s Your Life is Worth the Wait videos at www.up.com/worththewait. Spanish-language public rail safety videos available at www.up.com/mereceesperar.

 

In a second set of videos, Union Pacific uses animation to address pedestrian safety and the dangers of taking selfies on railroad tracks. One features a soccer fan taking a selfie on the middle of the field during game action and another shows young women taking selfies in front of landmarks. While there are many unique and safe places to take selfies, Union Pacific reminds viewers that railroad tracks are not among them. Watch and share Union Pacific’s photo safety videos at www.up.com/photosafety.

 

 



#4 CNJRoss

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Posted 22 September 2017 - 07:15 AM

Amtrak news release:

Amtrak Pacific Surfliner and San Diego Padres Partner to Promote Rail Safety Awareness

 

September 21, 2017

 

Kick-off event for National Rail Safety Week with California Operations Lifesaver at Petco Park, Sept. 24

 

 

SAN DIEGO – In recognition of National Rail Safety Week, Amtrak Pacific Surfliner will host an educational event featuring rail safety experts from California Operation Lifesaver (CAOL) Sunday, Sept. 24, at Petco Park before the San Diego Padres game against the Colorado Rockies. CAOL volunteers will staff a rail safety education booth at the Park at the Park, which opens two and a half hours before the first pitch. Attendees will have a chance to talk with rail safety experts who will provide valuable tips and resources for staying safe around railroad tracks, including those used by the Pacific Surfliner between San Diego, Orange County, Los Angeles, Ventura, Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo.

 

September is Rail Safety Month in California and Sept. 24 – 30 is National Rail Safety Week across the nation. California ranks No. 1 in the nation in incidents involving trespassers on the railroad tracks, with 191 incidents in 2016, a 38.4 percent increase from the prior year, according to the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA). California ranks No. 2 in incidents at highway-rail grade crossings, with 167 incidents in 2016, an 11.3 percent increase from the prior year, according to FRA.

 

“People continue to walk, exercise and take pictures on or near railroad tracks, all of which are illegal and extremely dangerous activities,” said Tony Kranz, chairman of the Los Angeles – San Diego – San Luis Obispo Rail Corridor Agency (LOSSAN), which oversees the Pacific Surfliner service. “With an almost 40 percent increase in trespasser incidents on California railroad tracks, it’s more important than ever for us to educate people on ways to keep themselves and their loved ones safe around railroad tracks.”

 

Most incidents are preventable by following simple safety rules, including staying alert near train tracks and crossing only at designated pedestrian or roadway crossings. Pedestrians are also urged to never walk on train tracks, and remember that trains always have the right of way and cannot stop quickly to avoid obstacles. For more information or to request a free rail safety presentation, visit: pacificsurfliner.com/railsafety, www.caol.us or www.oli.org.

 

 

 



#5 CNJRoss

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Posted 22 September 2017 - 12:24 PM

CSX.com:

 

Rail Safety Week

 

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Every three hours, a person or vehicle in the United States is hit by a train. Helping keep our communities safe is incredibly important. CSX, along with Operation Lifesaver, Inc. and other partner organizations, are leading safety awareness activities during this year's Rail Safety Week from September 24-30. The week features a collaborative awareness campaign drawing participants from Class I railroads, the U.S. Department of Transportation, first responders and more. CSX's network-wide outreach includes crossing safety blitzes, safety presentations for first responders and community members, college campus engagement, and more. There will also be events that focus specifically on truck driver and commuter rail education. 

 

A key partner of CSX for safety messages is Wide Angle Youth Media, a Baltimore-based nonprofit that provides youth with media education and opportunities for compelling storytelling. Two new rail safety videos, created by students in the program, are debuting during Rail Safety Week on csx.com/railsafetystories.   

 

Follow CSX on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to see what we're doing all week long to promote safety and reduce collisions, injuries and fatalities around railroad tracks.

 

Rail Safety Resources

Below are the rail safety information cards we pass out during crossing blitzes, as well as infographis that are perfect for sharing to raise awareness about rail safety. Our partners at Operation Lifesaver have additional downloadable Rail Safety Week materials.

 

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#6 CNJRoss

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Posted 22 September 2017 - 12:31 PM

CSX:

Wide Angle Youth Media

 

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WAP_LOGO.pngThrough an innovative partnership with Wide Angle Youth Media, CSX is releasing two new safety awareness videos that give a creative perspective on a serious topic. Wide Angle Youth Media is a nonprofit organization focused on media arts education as a way to inspire and support underserved youth in Baltimore. Since 2014, students from the organization have collaborated with CSX to develop media campaigns that communicate rail safety messaging in a way designed to resonate with their peers -- an important demographic for rail safety outreach.

 

The two latest videos will be released to coincide with national Rail Safety Week, September 24-30, 2017.

Watch the video below for a behind-the-scenes look at the videos in the making, and check back for the premieres of two new productions created by the talented teens.  

 

 

 

 

 

 



#7 CNJRoss

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Posted 23 September 2017 - 06:51 AM

WXEF-FM/WKJT-FM, Effingham, IL 9/22/17:

 
Illinois Rail Safety Week is Sept. 24-30

 

 

The Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police has asked Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner to declare September 24-30 as Illinois Rail Safety Week in order to promote vehicle and pedestrian safety around railroad tracks and trains.

 

The week will be observed by the Association in partnership with the Union Pacific and CN Railroads, along with support from state, county and local law enforcement agencies, other railroads, schools and various private sector agencies. In addition, Operation Lifesaver has declared the same week as National Rail Safety Week.

 

In Illinois during 2016, there were 101 crossing collisions involving motor vehicles, which resulted in 43 injuries and 24 fatalities. In addition, there were 41 trespasser incidents that resulted in 19 injuries and 22 fatalities  .  .  .

 

Continue here.



#8 CNJRoss

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Posted 24 September 2017 - 08:21 PM

Gorail.com 9/24/17:

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September 2017

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Correcting Five Myths Around Rail Safety

Today marks the start of the first-ever national Rail Safety Week (Sept. 24-30), a joint effort by the national rail safety education nonprofit Operation Lifesaver, Inc. (OLI), the U.S. Department of Transportation, law enforcement agencies, and many other organizations.
 
Believe it or not, a person or vehicle in the U.S. is hit by a train about every three hours. The goal of Rail Safety Week is to raise awareness, encourage rail safety education and empower the public to make smart decisions near railroad crossings.
 
Making the right decisions near railroad tracks can truly be the difference between life and death. On our blog, we’ve debunked some common myths that lead to unsafe practices around the tracks.

 

Read the Post

 

Visit OLI.org

 

 

 
 

 



#9 CNJRoss

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Posted 25 September 2017 - 11:59 AM

CP news release:

 
CP marks first U.S. Rail Safety Week with a plea to the public
September 24, 2017    Minneapolis, MN

 

 

​Canadian Pacific will be reaching out to the public during this first national U.S. Rail Safety Week with a simple, critically important message: Please be safe around the railroad tracks. Trains can't stop quickly, so it's up to motorists, pedestrians, and cyclists to follow the law and keep themselves safe.

 

"Over the past year, far too many Americans took unnecessary risks around the tracks, and tragically, many paid with their lives," said Ken Marchant, Chief of Canadian Pacific Police Service. "These incidents are tragic but preventable. We must all work together to save lives by reminding our friends and family not to take such unnecessary risks."

 

Federal Railroad Administration statistics show more than 2,000 grade-crossing collisions occurred last year, resulting in 145 fatalities. Additionally, 980 incidents between trains and trespassers claimed 491 lives. On average, a person is struck by a train every 3 hours. Since trains can't stop quickly, the law has been clearly established: It's up to motorists to yield right-of-way at crossings, and it's up to pedestrians not to trespass on railroad lines.

 

CP this week will participate in enforcement and public awareness events in New York, Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, and North Dakota. Outreach efforts include presentations to students, speaking to patrons of businesses close to tracks, enforcement efforts at grade crossings, and media events. CP will be working in collaboration with Operation Lifesaver Inc., a national organization with chapters across the country focused on education and outreach on this important issue.

 

"Operation Lifesaver proudly stands with CP and the entire railroad industry in sharing a message of safety during U.S. Rail Safety Week," said Operation Lifesaver President and CEO Bonnie Murphy. "Together, we work toward eliminating tragic incidents on the tracks."

Download a schedule of daily themes and events here, and follow along with #USRailSafetyWeek.

 

The railroad is also launching its own rail safety program, CP RailSense. Through education, targeted communications, and outreach, CP RailSense asks everyone to be situationally aware around the railroad. The goal of the program is simple: encourage safe behavior around tracks and trains, and eliminate injuries and fatalities. Learn more at www.cpr.ca/railsense.

 



#10 CNJRoss

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Posted 25 September 2017 - 06:26 PM

CSX news release:

 

CSX Promotes Safety Near Railroad Tracks through 'Rail Safety Week'

Unprecedented public-safety initiative delivers critical, life-saving information to drivers, pedestrians, schools and rail passengers
 

 

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – September 25, 2017 – Safety is CSX’s highest priority, and this week the railroad is partnering with the non-profit Operation Lifesaver, the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), other freight railroads, Amtrak, commuter rail-service providers, customers and law enforcement agencies across its 23-state network to raise awareness about how to be safe around railroad tracks. Through public events, informational displays and social media messages during the week of Sept. 25-30, CSX (Nasdaq: CSX) is working to reduce the number of crossing accidents in the communities where it operates.

 

“The safety of our employees and the communities where we operate is CSX’s top priority, and one collision involving a vehicle or pedestrian is one too many,” said Sean Douris, chief of police for CSX. “Our goal is zero accidents, and we believe education is the best tool to prevent these types of incidents. CSX is committed to reaching as many people as possible with the information they need to keep themselves safe around railroad tracks.”

 

A person or vehicle is hit by a train about once every three hours in the U.S., according to Operation Lifesaver, Inc. (OLI), a national educational organization dedicated to rail-safety awareness since 1972. While the number of collisions each year has dropped 83 percent in the past four decades, federal statistics show 265 people died in 2016 in collisions with trains. 

 

The goal of Rail Safety Week is to reduce these types of collisions and save lives by raising awareness about how to safely cross railroad tracks. Throughout the week, CSX representatives will join in this national initiative and focus on directly reaching drivers, pedestrians and rail passengers with important rail-safety tips. 

 

“We are proud to participate in the very first Rail Safety Week,” said Douris. “The scale of this safety outreach, in partnership with other railroads, non-profits and law enforcement agencies, is unprecedented in the rail industry. Working together to share life-saving information with the communities where we operate, we have the opportunity to make a significant impact on rail safety in our country.”

 

CSX has developed a comprehensive Rail Safety Week plan designed to reach people of all ages and amplify rail safety messages through a grassroots social media campaign. The plan includes:

  • ‘Safety blitzes’ at grade crossings where CSX representatives partner with local law enforcement agencies to reach drivers and pedestrians with safety information.
  • Passenger rail station outreach focusing on rail passengers, in partnership with commuter rail service providers and Amtrak.
  • Rail safety presentations at schools and community organizations.
  • Rail safety outreach and giveaways at college campuses near CSX tracks.
  • Targeted social media campaigns for areas on the CSX network that experience heavy pedestrian and vehicular traffic crossing the tracks. 
  • Social media messages, materials and hashtags for employees, customers and community members to share and help spread the word about rail safety. Materials are available at: www.csx.com/railsafetyweek
  • The launch of two new rail safety public service announcement videos created by Wide Angle Youth Media, a Baltimore, Md., non-profit that uses media arts education to engage young people. To watch and share videos, visit: www.csx.com/RailSafetyStories

Each year, CSX dedicates considerable time and resources on raising awareness about how to safely cross railroad tracks through our Play It Safe program, which involves non-profit partnerships, community outreach and various sponsorships. For more on this program, visit www.beyondourrails.org.

 






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