NYS Department of Motor Vehicles
Governor's Traffic Safety Committee

GOVERNOR PROCLAIMS RAILROAD SAFETY AWARENESS DAY

Governor George E. Pataki, stressing the need for caution when traveling near railroad property, has proclaimed Wednesday, May 17, 2000, as Operation Lifesaver Rail-Highway Safety Awareness Day in New York State. The event will be marked by brief ceremonies beginning at 8:45 a.m. at Amtrak’s Albany/Rensselaer Station, followed at 9:05 a.m. by a special train tour stopping in Hudson and Rhinecliff, returning to Rensselaer at approximately 11:30 a.m.

"Each year in New York State, collisions between trains and motor vehicles at highway rail grade crossings and between trains and people trespassing along railway rights-of-way cause loss of life and serious injury," Governor George E. Pataki said. "Motorists and pedestrians need to be cautious around train tracks, heeding warning lights and avoiding needless travel on or near railroad property."

May 17 is National Operation Lifesaver Day in 49 states and Canada.

Governor Pataki said preliminary reports from 1999 indicate that 22 people lost their lives from collisions with trains in New York State, but noted this figure represents a decrease from the 27 fatalities that occurred in 1998.

Guests on the Operation Lifesaver Special Train will include over 120 students from schools in Ballston Spa, an area where three youths have died in recent years while on a railroad trestle. They will be accompanied by officials from state and local governments, state, county and local law enforcement agencies, various railroads, the Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee, the Department of Motor Vehicles, the Department of Transportation and New York State Operation Lifesaver, Inc.

Law enforcement personnel and other officials will have the opportunity to share the engineer’s view of highway rail grade crossings and trespass hazards along the rail line.

"A motor vehicle is no match for a train in a collision, yet motorists often attempt to beat trains at rail crossings and the consequences can be deadly," said State Department of Motor Vehicle’s Commissioner Richard E. Jackson, Jr., Chair of the Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee. "Motorists are generally unaware that trains cannot stop as quickly as motor vehicles to avoid a collision."

New York State Operation Lifesaver Coordinator Seth Corwin stated that anytime is train time, that trains can come from any direction and that most collisions can be avoided if motorists observe New York State vehicle and traffic laws. He also emphasized that trespassing on railroad rights-of-way is illegal and extremely dangerous.

Operation Lifesaver, Inc., is a non-profit, international public education program designed to eliminate crashes, deaths and injuries at highway rail grade crossings and on railroad rights-of-way. Membership of New York State Operation Lifesaver, Inc., coordinated by the Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee, includes a wide variety of partners, including federal, state and government agencies, highway safety and transportation organizations and the nation’s railroads. Their public safety message is, "Look, Listen and Live."

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http://www.nysgtsc.state.ny.us/pr-51700.htm -- Revised: December 26, 2001
Copyright © 2002  NYS Governor's Traffic Safety Committee

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