On Tuesday, September 26 during the first U.S. Rail Safety Week (RSW), September 24-30, Indiana Operation Lifesaver, the nonprofit rail safety education organization, will join with Amtrak and local, state, federal and railroad law enforcement officers for “Operation Clear Track,” a one-day, three-hour surge to raise awareness and enforce railroad grade crossing and trespassing laws in states across the U.S. “Operation Clear Track” will be the largest simultaneous railroad safety law enforcement operation ever attempted in the U.S.
For three hours beginning at 10:00 a.m. EST, 9:00 a.m. CST, Indiana law enforcement personnel will be stationed at targeted railroad grade crossing incident locations to hand out railroad safety cards to motorists and pedestrians, and issue warnings and citations to violators. The goal of U.S. Rail Safety Week is to reduce pedestrian and driver injuries and fatalities around railroad tracks through increased public awareness.
WHAT: “Operation Clear Track” Police enforcement/education event to be held in 48 states at railroad grade crossings that have a high number of vehicle and/or trespasser incidents.
WHERE: Lake County, IN Ridge Rd. (9:00 AM CST)
Gary, IN Clark St., County Line Rd, and Lake St. (9:00 AM CST)
Lawrence, IN (10:00 AM EST)
WHY: Federal statistics show that about every three hours in the United States, a person or vehicle is hit by a train; In 2016, Indiana had 116 crossing collisions resulting in 10 deaths and 36 injuries as well as seven trespasser deaths and 12 trespasser injuries. “Operation Clear Track” is an effort by Indiana Operation Lifesaver, Amtrak and rail safety partner organizations including the Lake County Sheriff’s Department, Gary Police Department, Lawrence Police Department, and CSX Special Agents to raise awareness of the need for caution near train tracks during U.S. Rail Safety Week, September 24-30, 2017.
MORE INFO: Visit Operation Lifesaver’s national website for safety tips and statistics: www.oli.org; visit the US Rail Safety Week landing page for infographics, safety tips, and more; or contact Amtrak media relations for more information on “Operation Clear Track.”
About Operation Lifesaver – Operation Lifesaver is a nonprofit 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 the public with tips and statistics to encourage safe behavior near the tracks. OLI will lead a national observance of U.S. Rail Safety Week, September 24-30, 2017. Learn more about U.S. Rail Safety Week; follow OLI on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest.
