Operation Lifesaver Shares 5 Crossing Safety Tips for Drivers as PSA Airs in Times Square
NEW YORK, NY, May 29, 2012 – Operation Lifesaver (www.oli.org), the national rail safety education nonprofit, is sharing its top five safety tips for drivers as its “Best Man” public service announcement (PSA) begins playing this week in Times Square, bringing the group and its lifesaving message to 1.5 million people daily.
The PSA, which warns drivers that impatience at railroad crossings can be deadly, will be seen 18 times each day on Times Square’s 520 square-foot CBS “Super Screen,” reaching an audience of 189 million people between Memorial Day and September 30. The “Best Man” PSA shows what happens when a man rushing to his friend’s wedding drives around lowered gates at a railroad crossing.
(View the PSA online at http://bit.ly/KowxYm)
“As millions of people visit Times Square this summer, they’ll be exposed to an Operation Lifesaver video showing that driving safely at railroad crossings is a matter of life – or death,” says Operation Lifesaver President Helen Sramek. “Our mission is to educate drivers so they can make the right decisions at every crossing.”
In conjunction with the launch of the PSA’s summer campaign, Sramek offers Operation Lifesaver’s top five tips for driving safely near train tracks.
Operation Lifesaver’s Top 5 Crossing Safety Tips
1. Always expect a train at any crossing; trains can come from either direction, at any time.
2. Look and listen for a train as you approach every crossing – and be prepared to stop if needed.
3. Avoid distractions while driving or walking near tracks – hang up your phone, remove earphones or turn down your radio; don’t text, email, or use social media.
4. Trains can’t stop quickly because of their size and weight; it can take a fully loaded freight train the length of 18 football fields to stop once brakes are applied.
5. Do not get trapped on the tracks; proceed through a crossing only if you are sure you can completely clear it without stopping.
See more Operation Lifesaver videos at www.oli.org/video.
About Operation Lifesaver
Operation Lifesaver's mission is to end collisions, deaths and injuries at highway-rail grade crossings and along railroad rights of way. A national network of volunteers provides free presentations on rail safety. For more safety tips or to request a free safety presentation, visit www.oli.org. Follow OLI on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest.
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