Rail Safety Week is Sept. 21-27
Chief Christopher D. Delmonte and the Bridgewater Police Department are pleased to be joining forces with law enforcement agencies in the U.S. and Canada for “Operation Clear Track” — the single largest rail-safety law-enforcement initiative in North America.
Coordinated by Amtrak, Operation Lifesaver Inc. and Operation Lifesaver Canada, Operation Clear Track aims to reduce the number of railway crossing and trespassing incidents in the U.S. and Canada — incidents which seriously injure or kill more than 2,100 people each year.
The event is held during the annual observance of Rail Safety Week, which is being held Sept. 21-27.
“Bridgewater’s MBTA Commuter Rail station sees a lot of traffic throughout the year, especially when college students return to the Bridgewater Sate University campus,” Chief Delmonte said. “We hope that through this initiative we are able to inform those who use the commuter rail of the dangers of trespassing on railroad property and failing to obey the laws at railroad crossings.”
As part of Operation Clear Track, Operation Lifesaver provides the following railroad crossing safety tips:
- Never drive or walk around lowered grade crossing gates.
- Never attempt to outrun an approaching train.
- Never stop your vehicle on a grade crossing waiting for traffic to move.
- Never begin to drive across the tracks unless you can get all the way across.
- Always call the Emergency Notification System (ENS) number 24 hours a day to report problems or obstructions at the crossing. Look for the number on the blue sign near the crossing or on the crossbuck.
- Always remember a train can take a mile or more to stop.
- Always know that the average train is three feet wider than the track on each side.
- Always slow down and stop your vehicle prior to train tracks when lights begin to flash.
Because of the ongoing pandemic, law enforcement agencies will be participating in a virtual Operation Clear Track event this year. Police and sheriff departments across North America will be promoting rail safety through social media messages, by sharing Operation Lifesaver’s #STOPTrackTragedies public service announcements and other videos, and by posting other rail safety information to their department websites.
For more information about Rail Safety Week, Operation Clear Track, and other rail-safety initiatives and tips, visit www.oli.org.
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