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Maine Rail Group Awards Grant to Maine Operation Lifesaver

Hunting PSA Distributed To Maine TV Stations

Graph Depicts 33 Years of Train-vehicle Crashes in Maine

Maine Man Trespasses on Top of Train

Operation Lifesaver Testifies In Washington On Its Role In Rail Safety

2010 U.S. Rail Crossing Collisions, Pedestrian-Train Incidents Rise

New PSA Cuts to the (Deadly) Chase of Getting to the Church on Time

New Maine Railroad Trading Cards!

View New Distracted Driving PSAs

Recent Maine Operation Lifesaver Activities

Maine Rail Group Awards Grant to Maine Operation Lifesaver

A grant of $500 has been gratefully accepted by Maine Operation Lifesaver courtesy of the Maine Rail Group. The 2011 year-end gift will be used as part of rail safety education efforts during the next year along the Portland-Brunswick corridor.

Maine Rail Group is an organization of transportation professionals and other individuals devoted to promoting freight and passenger rail statewide. In a letter from MRG's President Jack Sutton, it states the grant "is a token of our appreciation for OLS's important and ongoing contributions to public and railroad safety throughout this region."

Funds will be spent primarily on educational material distributed to thousands of children and adults during presentations and at community events between now and the fall of 2012 when Amtrak service commences along the line. At that time, the 32-mile segment will host many more trains operating at considerably higher speeds necessitating a major outreach to alert the public about the dangers of trying to beat trains at railroad crossings and trespassing such as walking and operating recreational vehicles on private railroad property. Among the items given away at Maine Operation Lifesaver events are brochures targeted to various groups, Maine railroad trading cards, pencils, bookmarks, coloring and activity books, and key chains. Each item carries the railroad safety message.

Hunting PSA Distributed To Maine TV Stations

A powerful television public service announcement which needs no voice-over to explain its message has been distributed to commercial TV stations throughout Maine. Originally produced for North Carolina Operation Lifesaver, the PSA features a rifle scope pointing at a deer, then immediately cutting to a train blasting by. The message leaves viewers with the message, "Tracks are for trains. Not for hunters." Railroads report hunters on railroad tracks are one of the more common trespass situations. If you see the PSA played on a TV station, try to identify which station you saw it on and report it to maineol@roadrunner.com. To view the 30-second message for yourself, click here.

Maine Crossing Incidents

Note: Maine Operation Lifesaver debuted in 1984.
Courtesy: Maine Department of Transportation and Maine Operation Lifesaver

Maine Man Trespasses on Top of Train

Letter to the Editor of The Times Record, August 26, 2011

Rail shenanigans endanger lives
By Fred Hirsch
Published: Friday, August 26, 2011 2:09 PM EDT

It's happened again right here in Maine. A person placed himself in serious danger and survived -- this time. The latest incident, as reported in the Times Record and which has made headlines statewide, involves a Waldoboro man who rode on top of a train 45 miles from Rockland to Bath before being escorted away by police. An isolated act of stupidity? Not by a longshot. Earlier this summer, a Maine teenager plastered his Facebook page with pictures of him jumping from a rock outcrop onto the top of a train. Among the other photos is one of him riding his dirt bike across a trestle and another of his bike spinning out on the railroad ballast which, by the way, holds the track in place preventing derailments. In late spring, railroad officials discovered an out-of-state man, two Maine women and three dogs along with camping gear sitting on a freight car having arrived in Maine from an undetermined location. Should you ask any locomotive engineer or conductor, you'll be told they witness similar trespass situations almost daily. Folks are out for a leisurely walk on the rails, fishing from a railroad bridge, snowmobiling, riding an all-terrain vehicle or cross-country skiing in the middle of the tracks. Or, as was the case in this latest incident, just doing something -- well, dumb. Similar acts falling into that category include trying to jump on a train, throwing objects at a train, placing objects on the tracks, and playing "chicken" with a train. Nationwide last year, more than 400 people were killed trespassing on private railroad property. Hundreds more were seriously hurt, many with life-debilitating injuries. Maine railroads, as part of their ongoing efforts to prevent such incidents, support Maine Operation Lifesaver, a nonprofit educational organization devoted to reducing the number of tragedies that occur on and around railroad tracks. While the organization's original mission was focused on preventing rail crossing collisions, in recent years trespass prevention has become a bigger issue. Maine Operation Lifesaver, by the way, is currently looking for individuals to help in a massive effort now under way to bring attention to the dangers inherent at rail crossings and along railroad rights-of-way. As many know, tracks are being upgraded from Brunswick south through Freeport, Yarmouth, Cumberland,and Falmouth to Portland in anticipation of Amtrak service next year. That means many more daily trains and much faster trains than have been seen in several decades will travel through the region beginning next year. Our efforts include making presentations to truckers and other driving professionals, school children, driver's education students, service clubs and snowmobile clubs, among others. Volunteers spend one day at a presenter training class to become certified. One need not have any railroad knowledge or experience, but rather a want to make communities safer. Maine Operation Lifesaver also sets up displays at numerous community events. All rail safety presentations are free.
Fred Hirsch is state coordinator of Maine Operation Lifesaver (www.maineol.org). He can be reached at maineol@roadrunner.com or by calling (207) 945-6878.

Trespassing on Tracks is Dangerous and Illegal

This couple has a lot of nerve along this active Maine rail line: Girlfriend is
taking his picture standing in front of the 'No Trespassing' sign!

Operation Lifesaver Testifies In Washington On Its Role In Rail Safety

With cutting spending the main topic of discussion in Washington, D.C., Operation Lifesaver, Inc. President Helen M. Sramek recently testified on the organization's role in improving safety around railroad tracks and trains at a hearing of the House Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines and Hazardous Materials.

"Operation Lifesaver exists because of a startling fact - about every three hours in the United States, a person or a vehicle is hit by a train. We are the only nationwide public rail safety organization whose sole mission is to save lives and reduce injuries at highway-rail crossings and on or around railroad tracks," Sramek testified.

The trained and certified volunteers who provide free Operation Lifesaver safety presentations nationwide are one of the nonprofit group's greatest strengths, Sramek noted. Asserting that safety is a shared responsibility between the public and private sectors, Sramek discussed Operation Lifesaver's mission to carry out its railroad public safety information and educational programs in all 50 states.

She noted several reasons why Operation Lifesaver's contributions are important, including:

• The past 10 years alone have seen a drop of 38% in crossing collisions, 38% in crossing-related fatalities, and 30% in crossing injuries - gains resulting from improvements at crossings, elimination of highway-rail grade crossings, targeted enforcement efforts, and public safety education programs, including the sustained efforts of Operation Lifesaver.
• Operation Lifesaver develops community and state-wide projects that match a modest investment of federal dollars with private contributions or in-kind support.
• Freight rail traffic is increasing as the economy improves; more passenger, commuter and light rail systems are coming on-line, exposing the public to more risk if they are unaware of the dangers at crossings and along rail lines.
• Greater use of personal technology in cars and by pedestrians has created a more distracted public, inattentive to risks in all travel modes and the need for better decision making.

"In the four decades since its founding in 1972, OLI's grassroots network has become part of the national rail safety solution through partnerships, presentations, organized media events, and more recently, enhanced use of technology through web-based training. I urge members of Congress to maintain your investment in this national Operation Lifesaver program," Sramek concluded, "because as the need for safe transportation grows, so does the value of Operation Lifesaver."

2010 U.S. RAIL CROSSING COLLISIONS, PEDESTRIAN-TRAIN INCIDENTS RISE

An improving economy may have contributed to an increase in vehicle-train and pedestrian collisions, deaths and injuries in 2010, according to Operation Lifesaver, Inc. citing preliminary 2010 Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) statistics.

 The statistics show that as America pulls out of the recession and people are driving more, we need to redouble our efforts to educate the public about taking unnecessary risks at highway-rail crossings because any incident is one too many, said OLI President Helen Sramek.  Another disturbing finding is the continued rise in pedestrian incidents on or near train tracks.

In Maine, unofficially there were five incidents crossing or along railroad tracks in 2010. Four crashes occurred between a train and a vehicle  one of those incidents resulted in a minor injury to the car driver. There was also one trespass fatality. In 2009, there were two train vehicle-train collisions and two trespass incidents, neither being fatal.

The FRA statistics indicate that there were 2,004 vehicle-train collisions in the U.S. in 2010, up 4.2 percent from the 1,924 incidents in 2009; those 2010 collisions resulted in 260 deaths and 810 injuries, with crossing deaths up 5.3 percent and crossing injuries up 9.8 percent from the 247 deaths and 738 injuries in 2009. States with the most crossing collisions in 2010 were Texas, Illinois, California, Indiana and Louisiana.

U.S. Department of Transportation figures also show that vehicle miles traveled in 2010 (2,999,634 according to the Federal Highway Administration) were the third-highest ever, Sramek noted.  With more people traveling on our roadways, there s a greater chance for an incident to occur, she said.

An additional 451 pedestrians were killed and 382 injured while trespassing on train tracks last year, versus 417 deaths and 343 injuries in 2009. Total trespasser deaths rose 8.2 percent and trespasser injuries rose 11.4 percent in 2010. States with the most pedestrian-train casualties (deaths and injuries combined) in 2010 were California, Texas, Illinois, Florida and New York.

 Despite overall gains in rail safety in the past decade, these latest statistics show that Operation Lifesaver must continue its work to educate drivers and pedestrians about the dangers present around tracks and trains, said Sramek.

NEW PSA CUTS TO THE (DEADLY) CHASE OF GETTING TO THE CHURCH ON TIME

Operation Lifesaver has produced a new gut-wrenching television public service announcement, Where's the Best Man? which tells the story of a missing best man racing to his friend's wedding. A hasty decision to "save time" at the crossing brings consequences, raising the question:  Getting there. Is it worth your Life? While this PSA may leave you a bit choked up, especially as you watch the very last scene, it hits hard to describe in 30 seconds the seriousness of trying to beat the train. The PSA can be viewed by by clicking here.

THIRD PRINTING OF MAINE RAILROAD TRADING CARDS MIX FUN WITH SERIOUS MESSAGE

Fourteen new trading cards, all featuring new pictures, will delight Maine youngsters while carrying an important safety message about the dangers of being on or around railroad tracks. The cards will be distributed free to schoolchildren, aboard Maine passenger trains, and at community events statewide. Special emphasis for distribution will be at schools and events between Portland and Brunswick where tracks are being upgraded for an extension of the Downeaster which will mean more and much faster trains along that line.

The colorful cards promote safety at rail crossings and along the state's nearly 1,200 miles of active rail lines. The 14 new pictures represent Maine's five freight railroads, two tourist lines, and Amtrak's popular Downeaster. (Click "Trading Cards 2010" at left to view the pictures.)

On the backs of the cards are safety messages to drive home the fact that trains are fun to watch from a distance, but trespassing on railroad property is dangerous and illegal. Reminders include warnings not to place objects on the tracks, to walk a bicycle over a railroad crossing, and to never climb under or over a railroad car. Also on the cards' flip sides are brief descriptions of the Maine railroad lines featured in the pictures.

Special thanks go to the Northern New England Passenger Rail Authority, which operates Maine's Downeaster, and Operation Lifesaver, Inc. of Alexandria, Virginia, which have funded the new cards.

While Maine Operation Lifesaver volunteers will be giving away the free trading cards, as in the past, there have been requests to obtain a full 14-card set. We will honor those requests by asking for a $5.00 donation and mailing a check, money order, or cash to Maine Operation Lifesaver, 23 Park St., Old Town, Maine 04468.

Summer Rail Trespassing in Maine

Going camping, kids? These pictures were taken early this summer in Warren. If the town sounds familiar, it’s where a youngster and a man were fatally struck by a train and others hurt while fishing on a trestle several years ago.

On the Fourth of July, these bagpipers ignored tape strung across the tracks at each end of the Winslow-Waterville railroad bridge and proceeded after the Winslow parade to risk their lives. The local police were advised.

New TV Announcements Emphasize Distracted Driving At Rail Crossings

"Two New Distracted Driver PSAs"  - As listed on the oli.org website as Serious and  Humorous

Free DVDs

Two new DVDs targeting specific audiences have been released by Operation Lifesaver, Inc. and are now available at no charge through Maine Operation Lifesaver.

“Stay Alive When You Drive” has just begun distribution to provide professional truck drivers with the information they need to drive safely at railroad crossings. The fast-paced video provides critical tips to help commercial drivers avoid collisions. Scenes in the video include several serious crashes that illustrate the high stakes drivers face at crossings. In one scenario, on a dark, rain-swept night, a driver is shown the steps that can be taken to stay safe. Another scenario shows the vast number of distractions - pagers, GPS systems, laptops, and, of course, cell phones, which divert drivers’ attention from the road. Also in the ten-minute video, drivers are directed to get out of their rigs immediately if stalled at a crossing or if a low-boy trailer being pulled becomes wedged on the tracks while crossing. Maine Operation Lifesaver volunteers are happy to show the video and talk further about railroad crossings at no charge during an upcoming company safety day or you can request a copy to show drivers on your own.

“Look to Live” is the new driver education video, and since the vast majority of student drivers are teens, the DVD fits their lifestyle with music and featuring young adults through its ten-minute duration. Students are reminded that a train can approach from either direction at anytime, that because of its size an approaching train appears to be moving slower than it actually is, and how to escape safely from a vehicle if it stalls at a crossing. The video also suggests the driver turn down the radio or CD player as the vehicle nears a crossing and asks that passengers quiet down for a few moments until safely across the tracks.  Again, a Maine Operation Lifesaver certified presenter will visit a driver education class for a free presentation or the instructor may play the DVD during any part of classroom learning.

To request a copy, e-mail maineol@roadrunner.com, phone 207-827-7367,
or mail a note to Maine Operation Lifesaver, 23 Park Street, Old Town, Maine 04468.

“Makings of a Maine Tragedy”

”This unsuspecting group recently ventured illegally onto a railroad trestle in Maine only to be met by a train while caught in the middle. Notice the “No Trespassing” sign to the right of the tracks just before the bridge which was obviously ignored.”

”Several of the trespassers squeeze onto very small spaces in the middle of the trestle barely escaping very serious injury and likely death as a train rounds the bend approaching the group.  Had they tried to stand on what looks like a sidewalk next to the tracks, they would have been hit by the train which overhangs at least three feet beyond the rails.”

Maine Operation Lifesaver offers free presentations on railroad safety to groups, companies, and organizations statewide. Contact info@maineol.org or call 945-6878.

New PSAs Rolled Out Promoting Rail Safety

Operation Lifesaver has produced and is distributing a new set of television and radio public service announcements (PSAs) nationwide. They demonstrate to pedestrians and drivers how to use common sense around tracks and trains. The PSAs use humor to convey a serious message about train safety to young adults and families. The campaign, entitled “Shark,” compares staying away from railroad property as being just as smart as staying out of shark-infested waters and other dangerous practices.

Click this link www.oli.org/shark to view and listen to the new PSAs.

FRA Releases Demographic Report on Rail Trespasser Fatalities

Trespassers account for the largest number of fatalities in the railroad industry – approximately 500 per year. In order to better understand who is trespassing, their locations, and the reasons they are on railroad property, the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) issued a report using three years of reported trespasser fatalities. Medical examiners and coroners across the country were surveyed, and based on the best information available from those who elected to participate in the study, the average trespasser is most often a 38-year-old Caucasian male under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs, with a median household income of $36,000. More than 25 percent did not graduate from high school and 18 percent were determined to be suicides.

The report, Rail-Trespasser Fatalities: Developing Demographic Profiles, includes a state-by-state breakdown and shows California and Texas recording the highest number of such events. The report strongly recommends additional demographic analysis to reinforce and expand on these results in order to develop targeted educational and outreach programs and law enforcement initiatives to reduce the number of rail trespassing incidents.

The report is available at www.fra.dot.gov/downloads/safety/tdreport_final.pdf

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