AASHTO Journal - Operation Lifesaver Inc. Releases Two New PSAs

National nonprofit Operation Lifesaver Inc. (OLI) recently released two new public service announcements or PSAs that provide railroad safety information to the active transportation community.

[Above photo by OLI]

With accessible visual cues and voiceover narration, each PSA aims to educate and encourage pedestrians, bicyclists, scooter users, and others about making safe choices near railroad tracks and trains. The two new PSAs are:

Crossing Safely: Wheels Over Tracks educates people who use a variety of wheels (wheelchairs, bicycles, scooters, walkers, etc.) on how to safely navigate crossing railroad tracks at pedestrian crossings.
Stay Safe: Be Aware educates visually, auditorily and through American Sign Language (ASL) essential rail safety tips on crossing safely at pedestrian crossings.

“Created in close consultation with experts from a variety of communities, these PSAs are intentionally designed with messaging that resonates widely while educating the public on the necessity of making safe choices around tracks and trains,” said Rachel Maleh, executive director of OLI, in a statement. “Making safe choices around tracks and trains is important every day of the year. Together, we can #STOPTrackTragedies.”

OLI noted that the creation of these new PSAs involved a wide range of companies, advocates, and experts, including: Genesee & Wyoming Railroad Services; the Indiana & Ohio Railroad; subject matter experts at the Virginia Department for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing; the Hearing Speech + Deaf Center in Cincinnati; the Cincinnati Association for the Blind & Visually Impaired; CurbCutOS; Dr. Susan Elmore from SAElmore Consulting; and others.