Program warns people about walking on railroad tracks

North Carolina Operation Lifesaver (http://www.ncol.org) is highlighting public awareness of pedestrian safety with "Don't Walk That Line," a billboard and television public service advertising campaign to remind people of the dangers posed by tracks and trains.

The campaign, supported by the North Carolina Department of Transportation, sends a clear message: trespassing on train tracks is illegal and deadly.

"We are launching this campaign because North Carolina continues to rank among the top 10 states in pedestrian-train incidents nationwide, with 17 deaths and 19 injuries last year alone," says North Carolina Operation Lifesaver State Coordinator Vivian Speight-Bridges.

The billboards show train tracks and include taglines like "There's a fine line between taking a shortcut — and having your trip cut short."

Three safety messages, including a Spanish-language version, will be rotated on billboards over the next nine months in the Rocky Mount, Raleigh, Greensboro and Charlotte areas.

The billboards include a Web site, dontwalkthatline.org, with safety tips and contact information. More features will be added to the Web site in coming months.

The television PSA, targeted at hunters to warn of the dangers of hunting near train tracks, will air on the ION network in Greensboro starting this week. In addition, the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission will make the television PSA available to hundreds of certified hunter safety instructors throughout the state.

Operation Lifesaver 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. There are programs in all 50 states and the District of Columbia, with trained and certified presenters who 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, including safety tips and how to schedule a free safety presentation can be found at www.oli.org.

Track Safety Tips

1. Tracks, train tunnels, trestles, rail yards and equipment are private property. If you walk, hunt, fish or ride your ATV on the tracks, you are trespassing and can be legally prosecuted.

2. The only safe place to cross railroad tracks is at a public crossing. Anywhere other than a public crossing, stay off and away from the tracks.

3. Don't talk on a cell phone, text, or use MP3 players when you're near train tracks. Trains are quieter than you think, go faster than they appear, and do not run on set schedules.

4. Freight trains do not travel on a predictable schedule and passenger train schedules frequently change. Always expect a train at every highway-rail intersection, in either direction.

5. Because of their size and weight, trains can't stop quickly — a 100-car freight train traveling at 55 mph will need more than a mile to stop.