Operation Lifesaver 2011 Annual Report Highlights Rail Safety Education Efforts

WASHINGTON, DC, March 1, 2012 – During 2011, rail safety education nonprofit Operation Lifesaver launched the ProDriver Challenge (a videogame-style online program to train professional truck drivers), used social media and QR codes (interactive bar codes readable by smart phones) to promote its “Bad Move” pedestrian safety public service announcement, and held a leadership summit for its state program directors. These and other accomplishments are outlined in the organization’s 2011 Annual Report released today, according to President Helen Sramek.  

“As Operation Lifesaver celebrates its 40th anniversary, we stand tall because of the tremendous work that has been achieved over four decades. State programs, volunteers and partners all share in these achievements,” Sramek says in the report.

She notes that the organization is reviewing all of its activities to find more efficient ways to deliver its rail safety message to more Americans.

“Our challenge,” Sramek said, “is to successfully combine our traditional presenter-based safety education methods with interactive, Internet-based training and materials, leveraging social media, our website, and other communications channels.”

View and download the 2011 Operation Lifesaver annual report here: http://bit.ly/vZofBb

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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