(Operation Lifesaver issued the following article on September 7.)
ALEXANDRIA, Va. — The American Public Transportation Association (APTA) has honored Operation Lifesaver, Inc. (OL) with three first-place AdWheel communications awards.
“We are grateful to APTA for the AdWheel awards, as well as for this opportunity to expand our outreach immensely,” said Gerri Hall, president of OL. Noting that APTA’s 1,600 members serve more than 90 percent of people using public transportation in the United States, Hall added, “By showcasing the materials we have available at minimal or no cost to transit agencies, the APTA awards will help us help millions of drivers and pedestrians be safer around tracks and trains.”
The three entries, which were selected from the more than 750 entries APTA received this year, are eligible for the AdWheel Grand Prize award to be announced on October 9 during APTA’s annual meeting in San Jose, California.
OL is a national, non-profit safety education group whose goal is to eliminate deaths and injuries at railroad crossings and along railroad rights of way. While the number of automobile-related fatalities at highway/railroad crossings has been reduced significantly in the 34 years OL has been making safety presentations across America, there is still work to be done. According to the Federal Railroad Administration, since the year 2000, more than 5,300 people have been killed or injured while trespassing on railroad tracks and railroad property.
Operation Lifesaver’s 3,000 certified presenters throughout the U.S. and Canada are trained to give free safety talks to community groups, schools, school bus drivers, truck drivers and community organizations to raise awareness of the need for caution around railroad tracks and trains. More information can be found at http://www.oli.org/ or by calling 1-800-537-6224.