Media contact: (360) 664-1116 or media@utc.wa.gov
Help #STOPTrackTragedies During Rail Safety Week 2021 and Beyond
LACEY, Wash., – Every year, 2,100 North Americans are killed or seriously injured when they engage in unsafe behavior around tracks and trains. Washington Operation Lifesaver is teaming up with international rail safety partners to promote U.S. Rail Safety Week, Sept. 20-26, dedicated to preventing rail related fatalities and injuries through education.
A partnership between Washington Operation Lifesaver, Operation Lifesaver Inc. (OLI), Operation Lifesaver Canada, and the Mexican Association of Railroads (AMF), Rail Safety Week features social media campaigns and community education to help keep people safe around trains and tracks.
Gov. Jay Inslee signed a proclamation declaring Washington state’s commitment to Rail Safety Week to reduce crossing collisions and pedestrian-trespass incidents by raising awareness of railroad safety.
In 2020, 34 people were killed or injured in grade crossing and trespassing incidents in Washington state. Operation Lifesaver works to prevent these needless incidents from happening.
Join the virtual Rail Safety Week effort by sharing Track Tragedies videos and social media messaging — personal stories of people directly affected by rail crossing or trespassing incidents the Stop — using the hashtags #STOPTrackTragedies and #railsafetyweek.
Operation Lifesaver is a non-profit 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.
The UTC regulates railroad safety, including approving new rail crossings and closing or altering existing crossings, investigating train accidents, inspecting railroad crossings, approving safety projects, and promoting rail safety education through Washington Operation Lifesaver. In addition, the commission partners with the Federal Railroad Administration to perform inspections of track, hazardous materials, signal and train control, operating practices, and locomotive power and equipment.
-###-