U.S. Operation Lifesaver Supports European Level Crossing Awareness Day

WASHINGTON, DC, June 25, 2009 – Operation Lifesaver, Inc., the U.S.-based highway-rail safety awareness nonprofit organization, welcomed today’s coordinated effort in 27 countries, led by Europe, to call attention to the importance of safety at grade-level crossings. 

“We congratulate the nations participating in European Level Crossing Awareness Day (ELCAD) today for successfully bringing individual countries together to showcase their rail safety efforts,” said Operation Lifesaver President Helen M. Sramek. “We welcome the effort this week, as we in the United States launch a new campaign to reduce the number of pedestrians killed and injured while trespassing on or around train tracks.”

The ELCAD project involves all the European Member States plus Switzerland and Israel. The European Level Crossing Awareness Day focuses on the promotion of safe behavior at and around level crossings. Activities planned in communities around Europe will include handing out safety flyers at crossings, schools, and other places; posters displayed in railway stations and other central places; radio and television advertisements; and press events.

More information on the ELCAD project, along with educational material on risky behavior at and around level crossings, is available at www.levelcrossing.net.   

The goal of Operation Lifesaver’s new Common Sense public awareness campaign is to reduce the number of pedestrians who are killed and injured when trespassing around tracks and trains. The Common Sense campaign is designed to educate 18-34-year-olds, who make up the largest percentage of railroad-related pedestrian casualties, about the risks of railroad trespass. The campaign includes an interactive website, internet ads, videos, and local events. More information is online at www.CommonSenseUseIt.com. 

About Operation Lifesaver

Operation Lifesaver 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. Trained and certified OL presenters throughout the U.S. and Canada give free safety talks to community groups, schools, school bus drivers, truck drivers and community organizations to raise awareness of the need for caution around railroad tracks and trains. More information can be found at www.oli.org.