Sendai, Japan: Mr Easy gets across “it’s easy” message

Miyagi Prefectural Police and staff from JR East have been promoting the “it’s easy to cross safely” message with the help of the railway’s Mr Easy mascot. The spring traffic safety campaign with a focus on level crossings is seen as an effective route to changing the behaviours of motorists and pedestrians. The image accompanying this story was taken at the Toshogu Aoba-ku level crossing in Sendai.

KORAIL, operators of the national rail system, has mounted a nation-wide Rail Safety & Level Crossing Awareness Campaign”. Action involving some 4,000 volunteer saw awareness-building at more than 400 sites. This initiative was a partnership between rail authorities, non-governmental organisations and the police.

(April 30th, 2010)

Portsmouth, United Kingdom: Local initiatives to the fore

Typical of a rolling programme of local initiatives to promote safety at level crossings was the blitz targeting misuse of a level crossing in Cosham, Portsmouth. The blitz targeted both motorists and pedestrians who risk their lives and, in the case of motorists, those travelling by train.

Network Rail, the national rail infrastructure manager, highlighted the frequent misuse of the level crossing and urged motorists and pedestrians to stop running the red lights. A particular concern is the number of young people who play “chicken” with the frequent trains running at speeds of up to 70 mph.

Woodland, California: Police and California Northern in harmony

While the Class One railroads, Amtrak and larger commuter rail agencies have specialist railway police, regional and short line operations rely solely on their relationship with local police forces to address motorist behaviour at level crossings.

A case in point is the joint education and enforcement initiative between the California Northern Railroad and Woodland Police which on May 12th, 2010, will see railway staff and police officers deployed. Although Woodland Police have not in recent years had to attend a fatal level crossing accident, they have nevertheless identified a pattern of abuse common at some of California’s 10,117 public level crossings.

Of concern is the number of motorists who stop on the roadway over the railway when their exit is impeded by the traffic ahead. These blocking back incidents are self evidently the result of stupidity in that too many don’t realise that the resultant risk of being hit by a train could so easily have fatal consequences. The vehicle California Vehicle Code makes it abundantly clear that a motorist should never attempt to cross the railway at a level crossing until an exit route is assured. Likewise the offences in the Code specifically prohibit running red lights and weaving around barriers, but still, too many motorists see this as an acceptable behaviour. Hence the joint railway and police safety drive.

Melitopol, Ukraine: Four-week safety campaign underway

In Melitopol as in other cities across Ukraine, a four-week campaign to raise awareness of the arrangements for the safe use of level crossings began on April 28th, 2010. Where people choose to ignore the safety messages, enforcement action is likely. The approach adopted is to speak to motorists queuing at the 25 level crossings in the District and distribute leaflets promoting safe behaviour. Close attention is also paid to those who do not stop as required.

Timisoara, Romania: Police action nets many offenders

Those who comply with road traffic laws applicable to secure the safe use of level crossings ar encouraged when they see enforcement action taken against those who choose not to comply, particularly when the sanctions are seen as sufficient to motivate a change in behaviours.

This was the situation in Timisoara where a special exercise was mounted at the Baader level crossing equipped with lights, bells and half-barriers. Here, in one day the haul was 14 cases in which drivers’ licenses were suspended and vehicles empounded as well as 81 where fines of more than 26,000 Lei are applicable. Of these 31 were for specific level crossing offences with the others relating to other road traffic and criminal offences.

Again, this exercise has highlighted the benefits of rail and local police working together as exercises like this trap more than those violating the rules for the safe use of level crossings.

One of many Operation Lifesaver’s contributions to Rail Safety Week, April 26th to May 2nd, 2010, is a push to get younger children to Join Rover the Railway Rabbit and friends to learn important train safety lessons through fun activities, stories and videos at www.olkids.ca

Included with the “Are you rail smart?” messaging is a colouring competition open through to May 25th, 2010 which, although traditional, is an approach still seen to be of value.

Três Lagoas, Brasil: ALL launches blitz to improve behaviours

America Latina Logistica (ALL) has launched a level crossing blitz to engage with motorists and encourage them to behave safely at level crossings. The campaign in Três Lagoas, Mato Grosso do Sul, is also targeting pedestrians some of whom have a predisposition to cross even though they are aware of a train nearing a level crossing. The 2010 campaign builds on those undertaken annually since ALL took over rail services in Matto Grosso do Sul in 2007.

Foxton, United Kingdom: Dismay at truck driver’s trivial sentence

Rail authorities and level crossing experts have expressed their dismay at the very light sentence handed down to a truck driver who crashed through lowering barriers many seconds after the red lights protecting the crossing activated for an approaching train. The incident resulted in Cambridge Magistrates Court fined the errant truck driver GB£170 and placed three penalty points on the transgressor’s driving licence.

Unsurprisingly rail bosses and experts have expressed dismay at what they see to be a derisory sentence handed down by the magistrates. Iain Coucher, Chief Executive of Network Rail, the national rail infrastructure manager, attacked the sentence saying it was only “a slap on the wrists”.

Mr Coucher added that the “incident that could have had catastrophic and fatal consequences” and that for this reason the punishment didn’t fit the crime as it “was undeniably lenient”.

Network Rail’s call for tougher sentencing is an important strand in Network Rail’s strategy to reduce risk at level crossings

Illinois: Little Obie flies the flag for Lifesaver and CN

Canadian National’s (CN) drive to raise awareness of level crossing safety and the dangers of trespass reaches out to school children from an early age with the help of Little Obie, a miniature locomotive.

By way of an example, CN with support from Operation Lifesaver has been taking the “look, listen and live” message into elementary schools with safety messages delivered in a way that illustrates positive behaviours around the railway. After the presentation, delivered by Operation Lifesaver volunteers, the children get to ride around the neighbourhood on Little Obie.

Miami, Florida: Safety week messages targets level crossing misuse

In South Florida the third week of April is Train Safety Awareness Week. Central to this is the raising of awareness of the arrangements for the safe use of level crossings and the dangers of trespassing on the railway.

Officials from law enforcement, rail authorities and a wider caucus of volunteers are mounting an information and enforcement drive along the Tri Rail commuter rail service corridor running from Palm Beach County to Miami-Dade County.

Helena, Montana: Partnership to the fore in crossing safety drive

Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway (BNSF), Montana Rail Link, Amtrak, Operation Lifesaver and others combined forces to raise awareness of level crossing safety issues. Central to the campaign is a special “all aboard for safety” train devoted to railway safety issues which cab toured by community and family groups. The train was berthed in Helena for two days, April 19th – 20th, 2010. This is the latest call for the “all aboard for safety” train which has already toured in Washington and Oregon and moves onto Drummond when it leaves Helena.

Ammanford, United Kingdom: Level crossing offence attracts minimal penalty

Rail sector sources have expressed surprise that a professional truck driver was only fined GB£60 and his driving licence endorsed with four penalty points. These sanctions along with GB£95 in costs and victim surcharge were handed down by Ammanford Magistrates in relation to an offence of careless driving committed on September 9th, 2009.

The truck driver admitted the offence and said that he saw neither the yellow warning nor red stop lights displayed at the level crossing when he turned left out of Shand Road to go over the level crossing. In mitigation it was said that the truck driver was distracted by a group of youths hanging about near the level crossing. Adding, in the past that there had been problems of them riding on his flat-bed truck.

The truck driver stopped as a result of hitting a barrier and gave his name and address to the train driver as well as apologising for his error. Even so, given the risks to those travelling on the train, is a GB£60 fine appropriate?

Takamatsu, Japan: Escape training for motorists

An unusual angle in campaigning to improve motorist behaviours at level crossings is the exercise in Takamatsu, Kagawa Prefecture, which teaches motorists what they must do if they are trapped on a level crossing. The message is simple, get out of the car and press the alarm button. The exercise is seen as necessary because of the number of people who are still unaware of the alrm function fitted at many protected level crossings.

Burleson, Texas: Enforcement drive in fatal accident hotspot

Union Pacific (UP) and local police have mounted an enforcement drive in Burleson, Texas to communicate the importance of observing the law at level crossings. The campaign follows a period of less than a year in which there have been three level crossing fatalities within the jurisdiction of the Burleson Police Department.

Officers were deployed at the Alsbury Boulevard and Renfro Street level crossings in Burleson on April 15th, 2010. Nine motorists were ticketed for ignoring the warning signals. Each of these tickets will lead to a US$176 fine.

On December 8th, 2009 a man was killed when he ignored lights, audible alarm and lowered barrier, proceeding into the path of a train on the County Road 921 level crossing.

Prior to this a motorist was killed when he drove around a vehicle stopped at a level crossing in Alsbury, proceeding into the path of a train with fatal consequences. The most recent fatality on March 8th, 2010 was very different in nature as it occurred when a pedestrian lay down on the tracks. It is believed that this was an intentional act.

More widely in Texas as a whole, 56 people died in level crossing accidents in 2009.

Elmhurst, Illinois: Police blitz nets offenders

Police policy in Elmhurst, Illinois, is to strictly enforce road traffic laws at level crossings within its jurisdiction. This approach means that Elmhurst has only had one fatal level crossing accident since 1994.

To continue making the point that there is zero tolerance for those who abuse level crossings, six police officers were recently deployed on patrol at the Metra rail station level crossing. Typical of those reminded of the law was a cyclist who rode over the crossing as a train approached before being stopped and given a citation with a US$250 price tag.

Statistics released by the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) show that 2009 was a good year for safety at public level crossings in Illinois with 80 collisions involving trains, vehicles and pedestrians. Accidental deaths (i.e. excluding intentional deaths) fell to 16 from 25 in 2008, a year in which there were 129 collisions.

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: Awareness raising in full swing

Operation Lifesaver and Norfolk Southern (NS) have joined forces to raise awareness in the community of the risks associated with level crossing abuse. Last year, only one person died as a result of a collision on a Pennsylvania level crossing. However, there were 46 collisions involving trains and road vehicles.

To raise awareness, the approach adopted on this occasion was a special NS train with Operation Lifesaver in support. The train, for state and local officials, was equipped with cameras relaying images to monitors in the passenger accommodation so that everyone on board can see the line ahead and the many level crossings on the 120 mile round trip along the Monongahela valley which is a major source of coal traffic fro NS..

The train journey also allowed NS and Operation Lifesaver to raise awareness of the trespass issues along railway rights of way. In 2009, there were 29 trespasser fatalities on Pennsylvania’s railway rights of way.

Atlanta, Georgia: MARTA and Lifesaver focus on distraction

Operation Lifesaver and the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Agency (MARTA) have joined forces to tackle multi-tasking and distraction factors in level crossing safety.

The new safety campaign uses bus shelter posters and onboard video public service announcements (PSA) to remind commuters to “Stay Focused! Stay Alive!”

“Our new PSA reminds pedestrians to stay focused, especially near train tracks,” says Helen Sramek, President of Operation Lifesaver. “Pedestrians face multiple electronic distractions – cell phones, texting, mobile video and internet – all with deadly consequences, because there is no second chance if you meet a train on the tracks.”

Primary funding for the on-board PSAs comes through a grant from the Federal Transit Administration. Georgia Operation Lifesaver (www.georgiaol.org) co-ordinated the project which coincides with a proclamation by Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue designating the month of May as “Operation Lifesaver Month in Georgia.” 

“This new poster and video safety message will reach MARTA commuters and other citizens we’re trying to educate about distractions and transit safety,” said Georgia Operation Lifesaver State Coordinator Jennie Glasgow.

“Distracted Pedestrians,” a 30-second public service announcement (click on www.oli.org/psas to view), will appear through May on MARTA trains for riders to watch as they commute. The safety spot features a harried executive rushing to work, barking orders while sending last-minute instructions to employees via cell phone.  He runs into other commuters and a street musician in his haste.  Unfortunately, he ignores the oncoming train as well.

(April 12th, 2010)

United Kingdom: Young driver speaks from prison

A film produced for Network Rail which features a young motorist who, at the age of eighteen with just two months of driving experience since passing his driving test was jailed for five years for causing the death of two friends in a collision on a level crossing in Scotland. The hard hitting film, aimed at other young drivers, is hard hitting and should – on the basis of the personal testament of the jailed motorist – drive home the folly and potential consequences of ignoring the red lights at level crossings.

Richard Fleming, the jailed motorist, was filmed while serving a five year sentence in Polmont Young Offenders Institution on two counts of causing death by dangerous driving. In the film, he clearly shows remorse for his actions and comes across as committed to ensuring that others learn from his mistakes and respect the rules for the safe use of level crossings.

Victoria, Texas: Safety blitz comes to town

The Victoria Police Department, Victoria County Sheriff's Office and Union Pacific Railroad (UP) Police joined forces in Victoria to raise awareness of the rules for the safe use of level crossing and ticket those who ignore them.

On April 6th, 2010, as a UP train travelled along the Main Street alignment, police and sheriff’s officers ticketed 27 motorists who violated railway caution signs.

(April 6th, 2010)