CHICAGO — Metra is planning Operation Lifesaver “Safety Blitzes” at 59 stations across its six-county system in 2019, part of an effort to raise safety awareness with its passengers.
Metra employees will be at stations during the morning commute, distributing educational materials, answering questions and listening to commuters’ safety concerns, and showing a short video about grade crossing safety.
“Safety is always Metra’s highest priority,” Metra CEO and Executive Director Jim Derwinski said in a media release about the program. “These safety blitzes allow us to reach our customers directly to ensure that they understand the need to stay vigilant about safety around the railroad.”
The program began in February and will reach stations on all Metra lines. A complete schedule is available here.
The safety issue is particularly acute in Illinois, which ranked second nationally in rail fatalities in 2018 and fifth nationally in trespassing fatalities. There were 47 people killed and 51 injured at grade crossings or along railroad rights-of-way. Metra trains were involved in 14 of the fatalities, including six at grade crossings. The numbers do not include deaths ruled to be suicides or suspected suicides.
Many people don’t take time to think.
The people that will see the film are the ones that get to the station before train time. The ones that show up at the last minute and run across the tracks to catch the train won’t have time to see the film that needs to be directed to them.
Commuters tend to be adult professionals who should know better than to trespass on railway property and imperil themselves at grade crossings. Nonetheless, many do commit such hazards. This campaign should be extended to area schools to teach children (including teenagers, if that is ever possible) to practice safety around railways.