OLI’s Rose Outlines Rail Safety Group’s Priorities at AASHTO Meeting
WASHINGTON, DC, February 21, 2013 – Joyce Rose, President and CEO of Operation Lifesaver Inc., (OLI), discussed the nonprofit safety organization’s priorities for rail safety education and awareness activities at the recent 2013 Washington meeting of the Standing Committee on Rail Transportation of the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO).
AASHTO is an important national partner for Operation Lifesaver, and is represented on the OLI Board of Directors, said Rose, noting, “We'd like to do more with state departments of transportation through AASHTO to strengthen relationships with our state OL programs.”
The OLI president outlined three areas of focus for Operation Lifesaver’s national office going forward:
1. Raise awareness of the Operation Lifesaver brand by forging partnerships with national transportation and safety organizations;
2. Increase focus on passenger rail and rail transit safety while continuing freight rail safety efforts; and
3. Expand the audience for Operation Lifesaver's safety message through greater use of digital communications, e-learning, and social media.
In the area of passenger rail and transit safety, Rose noted that the Federal Transit Administration has been given new safety oversight responsibilities under the 2012 surface transportation legislation known as MAP-21. “OLI will participate in the implementation of this new program to ensure that rail crossing and pedestrian safety issues are considered,” she said.
While Operation Lifesaver’s outreach methods are changing, Rose reiterated that the organization’s mission – to prevent collisions, injuries and fatalities on and around railroad tracks and highway-rail grade crossings – remains the same.
“Operation Lifesaver has a long and successful history in rail safety education, but we must renew and update the organization and its message to meet today's safety challenges,” Rose concluded.
About Operation Lifesaver
Operation Lifesaver, Inc. 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. Operation Lifesaver has programs in all 50 states, with trained volunteers who provide free safety talks to community groups, school bus drivers, truck drivers and student drivers to raise awareness of the dangers around railroad tracks and trains. For more information, or to request a free safety presentation, visit www.oli.org, or follow OLI on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/operation.lifesaver, Twitter: @olinational, and Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/olinational/.
###
