WASHINGTON, DC, September 7, 2023 – Rail safety education nonprofit Operation Lifesaver, Inc. (OLI) today releases a new public service announcement (PSA) educating the public about risky decisions around railroad tracks and crossings. The Risk is Real PSA, available in English and Spanish, illustrates consequences of unsafe choices.
“The Risk is Real targets messaging to people who think they will beat the odds and those who don’t realize their choices are risky, urging them to make safe choices around railroad tracks,” said OLI Executive Director Rachel Maleh. “OLI’s new PSA highlights three risk-takers and the dangers they face: an impatient driver who attempts to drive around lowered crossing gates, a woman climbing through a train car and an athlete taking a shortcut across tracks.”
Did you know:
- Every three hours in the U.S., a person or vehicle is hit by a train
- Trespassing along railroad rights-of-way is the leading cause of rail-related deaths in America
- Railroad crossing incidents are the second leading cause of rail-related deaths in America
- 95 percent or all rail-related fatalities result from crossing collisions or pedestrian trespassing incidents
- More than 60% of vehicle-train collisions occur at railroad crossings with either lights or gates
Maleh continued, “It’s imperative for everyone to recognize the risks, obey the signs, stay off railroad equipment and only cross at designated crossings. Together, we can stop track tragedies.”
The PSA is available in 60, 30 and 20-second versions in English and Spanish on the OLI website as well as in the website’s Materials section. Funding for the project was provided by the Federal Railroad Administration.
