Operation Lifesaver, Inc. Releases New Materials Empowering People Experiencing Homelessness to Make Safe Choices Around Railroad Tracks and Trains
WASHINGTON, DC, January 28, 2021 – Operation Lifesaver Inc., (OLI), the national rail safety non-profit, today releases materials focused on sharing rail safety information with individuals experiencing homelessness, empowering them to make safe choices around railroad tracks and trains. The Respect the Rails: Choose Safety campaign includes an image-driven poster highlighting positive and adverse choices around railroad tracks and trains as well as an information-filled brochure for service providers and volunteers with safety tips and information for them to share.
Every 3 hours in the United States, a person or vehicle is hit by a train. On foot or in a vehicle, results can be the same — severe injury or even death. Walking on railroad tracks, near tracks and trains, and in or around rail yards is dangerous and illegal.
“Our goal is to educate and empower individuals experiencing homelessness to make safe choices for themselves around tracks and trains,” said OLI Executive Director Rachel Maleh. “We are excited about these new materials, which are designed to reinforce the importance of rail safety information for this growing population.
“Our Respect the Rails: Choose Safety materials educate professionals and volunteers who work with people experiencing homelessness about the dangers individuals may face near trains and tracks,” Maleh continued. “By sharing our safety tips, displaying posters or encouraging community organizations to request a FREE OLI presentation, we can save lives.”
The new materials can be downloaded from the OLI website. Spanish materials will be available March 1. To see if a free safety presentation is available in your state, visit oli.org/request-presentation or www.oli.org.
About Operation Lifesaver, Inc.
Operation Lifesaver is a non-profit public safety education and awareness organization dedicated to reducing collisions, fatalities and injuries at highway-rail crossings and preventing trespassing on or near railroad tracks. A national network of trained volunteers gives free presentations on rail safety and a public awareness campaign, “See Tracks? Think Train!”provides tips and statistics to encourage safe behavior near the tracks. Learn more aboutRail Safety Week; follow OLI on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter,Pinterest and YouTube.
###
