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9/13/2023
Operation Lifesaver Inc. (OLI) yesterday unveiled a public service announcement (PSA) targeting maintenance-of-way workers and others who work near railroad tracks and crossings.
The "Choose Safety First" PSA shows workers in three rail-related scenarios: a landscaping crew member mowing grass near railroad tracks; a worker whose vehicle stalls on the tracks; and a surveyor attempting to get a specific line of sight. All three vignettes are included in the 70-second PSA; three shorter versions show the individual scenarios.
Every three hours in the United States, a person or vehicle is hit by a train; over 60% of vehicle-train collisions occur at crossings with lights and or gates. Preliminary statistics from the Federal Railroad Administration show 2,197 collisions between vehicles and trains at railroad crossings in 2022, as well as 1,175 pedestrian rail trespass casualties, OLI officials said in a press release.
The new PSA and shorter versions are available on the OLI website as well as in the website’s materials section. Funding for the project was provided by the Federal Highway Administration. The PSA is available in English and Spanish and encourages safe choices for these essential workers, OLI officials said.