OLI Observing Rail Safety Week

Rail Safety Week was launched this week by Operation Lifesaver in the United States and Canada.

The OLI organizations in both countries are collaborating in a joint campaign known as #STOPTrackTragedies to raise public awareness of safe practices at railroad grade crossings.

During the campaign OLI will show videos with the personal stories of people including victims, friends and family members, locomotive engineers and first responders who were affected by grade crossing or trespassing incidents.

One video a day will be released each day over the course of Rail Safety Week, which runs through Sept. 28.

OLI said that last year’s campaign and other safety week efforts generated nearly 3.7 million video views on YouTube and 18 million impressions on social and traditional media in the U.S. and Canada.

U.S., Canada OLI To Observe Rail Safety Week

The Operation Lifesaver organizations of the United States and Canada are planning to conduct a joint Rail Safety Week this year, Sept. 23 to 29.

Canada has observed Rail Safety Week in April for the past 15 years while its U.S. counterpart held its first Rail Safety Week in 2017.

“By aligning our dates with those of the U.S., we’re ensuring a more coordinated — and hopefully impactful — North American rail-safety campaign,” said Sarah Mayes, national director of Operation Lifesaver Canada.

In the United States, Operation Lifesaver works with the U.S. Department of Transportation, the railroad industry, state Operation Lifesaver programs and other state and local safety partners on an awareness campaign, local events and distribution of safety tips to pedestrians, drivers, transit riders and passenger-rail users throughout the week.