California Operation Lifesaver

California Rail Safety Month This year their will be a first ever U.S. Rail Safety Week September 24 – 30 Perfect timing as a part of our rail safety month that adds to awareness across our state and nationwide.

About Us Our Mission Non profit Rail Safety Public Educational Organization   We are dedicated to ending collisions, fatalities and injuries at highway-rail grade crossings and on railroad rights of way

The Numbers We See Everyday Every 3 hours a person or a vehicle is hit by a train in the U.S. The result is almost always the same severe injury or even death Vehicles at rail crossings and pedestrians walking on railroad tracks account for 95% of all rail related deaths And almost all of the deaths are preventable!

HOW DOES THAT IMPACT CA - WHY THE NEED? California ranks Number 1 in Trespass Casualties California ranks Number 2 in Grade Crossing Incidents California ranks Number 1 in Fatalities in both Trespass and Grade Cross

Numbers in Our State Over the past 5 years: 720 GC Incidents: 180 Fatalities 346 Injuries 706 Trespass Casualties: 410 Fatalities 296 Injuries A total of 590 Fatalities. Up from the last 5 Year Total ending in 2015 by over 100 fatalities

Underscore the Need- What Next? These Statistics underscore the need to educate the public and raise rail safety awareness in our state. _________________________________ How can we change these numbers? How do we change these dangerous behaviors near Railroad tracks?

Safety Education In 2016, over 9 million people in California were personally exposed to the California Operation Lifesaver Rail Safety messages. How are we growing the message? Social Media TV/Radio Ads (when possible) Digital Advertising Trained Authorized Volunteers-presentations/events statewide Partner Support and involvement Community Involvement at every level

2017 Campaigns- OL/FHWA and OL/FRA Grants TV PSA Advertising Campaign (OL/FHWA - Sept. RSM) California Broadcasters Association (CBA), CAOL - OL Grade Crossing PSA Advertising Campaign in 3 Key Television Markets Digital Ad Campaign (Sept. OL/FRA RSM) CAOL will use digital advertising to raise rail safety awareness in 13 counties where casualties have risen by 100% or more

CAOL Collaboration is Key Railroads & Transit Providers City/County Governments Law Enforcement School Districts Public Service Agencies Private industry Area Businesses Community Groups Together we need to change the statistics. It will take: Our Rail Safety Education Working with Our Rail Safety Partners Getting Communities Involved We need to work together to change the daily dangerous behavior at RR Tracks.

Raising Awareness – Changing the Numbers Identify the areas and demographics in need of the message Create rail safety campaigns to reach those communities Create partnerships to encourage proactive participation from all sectors of the community Create a “rail safe” community educated and aware Proactive vs Reactive Grow the effort together Sustain the message

Grow and Sustain the Message Community involvement is critical - Every Community has its own unique needs Work together to identify and target the message to educate the community Create varied and specific campaigns to reach those community groups It is through proactive partnerships where we work together to emphasize the need to make good decisions around railroad tracks that we are able to enhance our efforts.

Example of Partnership Efforts School Districts creating Rail Safety Resolutions – Commitment to Annual Varied Rail Safety Education Cal Poly San Luis Obispo – “Rail Safe University” Officer on the Train and Safety Train Events – partnering with Law Enforcement Positive Enforcement Programs proactive rail safety education Rail Safety Awareness Campaigns with Cities and Counties

Share the Message

Share the Message

Help Save Lives! #SAVELIVESTELL5 How can you help save lives? Please share our See Tracks? Think Train! Message. Ask your family and friends to make safe decisions near railroad tracks. Share the message with 5 of your family and friends ask those 5 to tell 5 and so on…

We Appreciate all of our Supporting Partners Federal (FRA, FHWA) State (DOT) Class 1 Railroads Transit Providers Short Line Railroads Corporate Grant Funding

Nancy Sheehan-McCulloch Contact Information State Coordinator Nancy Sheehan-McCulloch Phone: 530-832-0683 Email: nsheehan.caol@sbcglobal.net www.caol.us Follow Us: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CAOperationLifesaver    Twitter: https://twitter.com/CAOpLifeSaver Blog: https://caoperationlifesaver.wordpress.com/