Lxinfo - Campaigns and Education

Lxinfo magazine - Campaigns and education

Brussels, Belgium: ILCAD de-brief sets scene for 2011 event
The debriefing meeting of the “International Level Crossing Awareness Day” (ILCAD) task force took place on September 23rd, 2010 in Brussels. The objectives of the meeting were to take stock of the 45 national awareness campaigns and measures taken on June 22nd, 2010; to assess collective and individual results; to share information to improve future projects regarding safety and education at level crossings; and to plan new projects for the 2011 International Level Crossing Awareness Day. The meeting was chaired by Isabelle Fonverne, the ILCAD Project Coordinator from UIC who announced two new partners: “RSE Rhein-Sieg-Eisenbahn” (a private German rail company) and “Urban Light Rail System” in Guadalajara (Mexico) and gave a general overview of the campaign, presenting all the common projects and information. National overviews were provided from the United Kingdom, Estonia, Italy, Poland, Slovakia, Portugal and Serbia. Each report explained what had been done and the evaluation of its effectiveness, focusing on targeted groups, partners involved and costs. The 2010 campaign involved the road sector, government agencies, railway undertakings, railway infrastructure managers, police, and non-profit organisations dealing with railway safety education from over 45 countries. Also involved were European and International rail organisations (CER, EIM and UIC), the Directorate General for Mobility and Transport of the European Commission, the European Railway Agency (ERA), the UN-ECE Transport Division, Operation Lifesaver, the European Transport Safety Council (ETSC) and the European Level Crossing Forum (ELCF). The Latin American Railway Association (ALAF) and the Australasian Railway Association (ARA) also joined the campaign. Jean-Paul Repussard, of the Road Safety Unit of Directorate General for Mobility and Transport of the European Commission, reported on the DG MOVE’s press conference that took place at the European Commission Headquarters (see e-News No. 193) and the impact of the video clip “Just in time” aimed at the public, particularly road users and pedestrians all over the world. The European Commission financed the making of the clip and it was made available free of charge to all ILCAD partners. All partners put the clip on their websites and adapted it by integrating the official motto “Act safely at level crossings” in their own language to complement the national activities in participating countries. The video clip has also been shown on screens in railway stations and schools and at press conferences and staff assemblies in companies. It can still be watched on the EC website: http://ec.europa.eu/transport/road_safety/index_en.htm or on the ILCAD website: www.ilcad.org. Liesbeth de Jong, of the UIC Communications Department, reported on the media impact and success of the event in Europe and beyond. A “press book” summarising the media impact and including more than 500 articles is nearly finalised. The date for the International Level Crossing Awareness Day 2011 will be set and communicated soon. You can find more information on all the projects undertaken, press articles and other published documents, country by country on www.ilcad.org (September 28th, 2010)

Illinois: UP Police produce enforcement guide with state support

An enforcement guide for police officers that lists all
the general offences related to railway property, has
been produced by Senior Special Agent Mike Meyer
of the Union Pacific Police.

With assistance from the Illinois Commerce
Commission (ICC) and other law enforcement
officers, the guide (pictured here) was designed
and created.

It will be printed and distributed by the ICC in the
near future but any organisation can cut it out and
use it to help with a particular project. Your logo
can be put in place of the yellow early warning.

You can find the guide at www.elmhurst.org/archives/68/OL%20Newsletter%20
100110.pdf

(September 27th, 2010)

Chico, California: UP takes to the rails in enforcement drive
Union Pacific Railroad (UP) took a train that included historic cars to Chico, but only wanted people to admire them from afar. The train was part of a safety-train special enforcement action targeting motorists who violate the law at rail crossings and pedestrians who walk on or too near the tracks. Union Pacific Railroad police and officers from Chico kept watch on the tracks looking for violators on the day. A similar enforcement action took place at the beginning of the autumn term last year at Chico State University.		Railway officials said they were working with local authorities to enhance awareness of the need for safety around trains and tracks. The train included a number of restored historic passenger cars. (September 20th, 2010)

Springfield, Illinois: Funds for safety education available from state coffers
The Illinois Commerce Commission’s (ICC) Railroad Safety Section has issued a request for grant proposals for local rail safety education and enforcement programmes. The ICC recently received a Federal Railroad Administration grant to continue working with local communities and railways in Illinois to implement rail safety education or enforcement programmes. The commission is encouraging interested communities to submit a proposal describing rail safety concerns in their area, proposed education and/or enforcement activities and a requested grant amount. The ICC will accept proposals until November 1st. 2010. (September 20th, 2010)

Sulphur, Louisiana: Police and UP join forces to target errant motorists
Louisiana State Police and the Union Pacific Railroad (UP) Police conducted a railroad crossing enforcement blitz on LA Highway 108, south of Sulphur. Troopers and officers were looking for drivers who ignored level crossing warning signals as trains approached. During the action, 40 citations were issued including 35 for failure to obey a signal indicating the approach of a train; one for a vehicle carrying hazardous materials failing to stop at a rail crossing; three for failure to wear a seatbelt and one for driving while suspended.		Additional enforcement actions are also planned for other areas. Last year, 11 people in Louisiana died in vehicle crashes with trains. It was the sixth highest number of such fatalities in the country. Failure to obey level crossing signals may result in a USD200 fine and 30 days in jail. The fine for racing a train is USD 1,000. (September 15th, 2010)