With more holiday driving expected, rail safety group shares top three tips for travelers

WASHINGTON, DC, December 21, 2011 – More Americans are predicted to travel by car this holiday season, and rail safety education nonprofit Operation Lifesaver (www.oli.org) is encouraging travelers not to be complacent around highway-rail grade crossings.

"We know that during the holidays, drivers can be distracted or in a hurry to get somewhere," said Helen M. Sramek, President, Operation Lifesaver Inc.

"Preliminary Federal Railroad Administration statistics for the first nine months of 2011 show that, while vehicle-train collisions are down slightly, the number of Americans injured in crossing crashes rose 14 percent from 2010. That's why we're sharing our Top Three crossing safety tips for drivers as they prepare for the heaviest travel days."

Sramek noted that AAA's 2011 holiday travel forecast predicts 91 percent of travelers will travel by automobile at least 50 miles from home during the year-end holiday season from Friday, Dec. 23, 2011 to Monday, Jan. 2, 2012, up from a year ago and the second highest travel volume in ten years.

"With more traffic expected on the roads, we encourage motorists and pedestrians to be extra cautious around railroad crossings," said Sramek. "Follow our safety tips, stay focused and obey the warning signs, so you can enjoy the holidays once you reach your destination."

Operation Lifesaver’s Top Three Crossing Safety Tips

1.    Always expect a train at any crossing. Trains can come from either direction, at any time; look and listen for a train as you approach every crossing and be prepared to stop if needed.
2.    Focus your attention.  Hang up your phone, remove earphones, turn down music, and don’t text, email, or use social media while driving or walking near tracks.     
3.    Do not get trapped on the tracks. Proceed through a crossing only if you are sure you can completely clear it without stopping.

Poster image courtesy of Operation Lifesaver Estonia. Download the 2012 Operation Lifesaver Estonia holiday poster (pdf format)

Operation Lifesaver (www.oli.org) is a national, non-profit safety education group whose goal is to eliminate deaths and injuries at railroad crossings and along railroad rights of way. It has programs in all 50 states with trained and certified presenters who provide free talks to raise the public’s safety awareness around tracks and trains.

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