Education, Engineering, and Enforcement
The three E's of Operation Lifesaver are Education, Engineering, and Enforcement. These three elements are crucial for promoting rail safety and preventing collisions and injuries at highway-rail crossings and along railroad rights-of-way.
Education
Education is fundamental to everything we do at Operation Lifesaver.
Our rail safety programs include free presentations by authorized volunteers in schools, civic and community organizations as well as specialized training for law enforcement, professional drivers and emergency first responders. We give people the information they need to stay safe around railroad property and rights-of-way. Our programs provide valuable facts about trains, illustrate how drivers can safely navigate highway-rail grade crossings, and reinforce that it's illegal and unsafe to ever walk on or use railroad tracks for recreation.
Engineering
While Operation Lifesaver's role is primarily to promote education, engineering is one of the important three E's of rail traffic safety. We support and encourage the kinds of continued engineering research and innovation responsible for having greatly improved the safety of America's railroad crossings because whenever two modes of transportation share the same section of roadway, as they do at highway-rail grade crossings, the possibility for a collision exists. Engineering technologies play a critical role in helping minimize and reduce those collision risks.
Enforcement
This refers to the role of law enforcement in ensuring that traffic laws related to crossings and trespassing are followed. Enforcement can involve issuing warnings or citations to individuals who violate these laws.
Operation Lifesaver, Inc.’s Railroad Investigation and Safety Course for Law Enforcement (RISC-LE), formerly known as GCCI (Grade Crossing Collision Investigation Course), was developed for the North American law enforcement and first responder community by the nation’s railroad police and Operation Lifesaver, Inc.
RISC-LE prepares first responders to use the proper safety techniques while investigating or responding to a grade crossing collision or trespasser incident, in addition to maintaining on-scene safety unique to the railroad environment.
Course Overview
If railroad tracks run through your community, first responders could become involved in responding to a highway-rail grade crossing incident. This course provides the critical information allowing first responders to respond to and investigate incidents involving the railroad effectively and safely.
The Railroad Investigation and Safety Course (RISC-LE) is offered at the Basic (1-hour), Intermediate (2-hour) and Advanced (4-hour) levels. Training is available at no cost to help officers and first responders more effectively and safely manage such incidents.
This course is geared towards law enforcement and first responders, teaching them how to be safe on and around railroad tracks while they are investigating an incident.