Director's Message 2012

As we move into a new year 2011 slipped away. North Carolina Operation Lifesaver has had many opportunities to spread our safety message into the public and we would like to share those successes with our friends and partners.

According to FRA statistics, which show incidents and fatalities through October, our overall numbers show a decrease in most areas. Highway fatalities rose from 1 to 3 which is a 300% increase. Trespass fatalities show a 50% decrease, trespass incidents a 57% decrease and Highway incidents show a 73% decrease. Final numbers will be available in March and we will update the web site to reflect those numbers. The activities of our presenters and their dedication to their communities can be connected to the decreases. NCOL presenters made 799 presentations within our borders covering 21,652 citizens. From Elizabeth City to Bryson City we reached kindergarten to Professional Drivers, Drivers Education students to School Bus drivers.

During our work with our partners community blitz actions were held in 16 different cities. Law Enforcement and Fire Educators worked alongside the Safe Kids and Safe Community Coalitions sharing rail safety information at crossing blitzes. Partners assisting in the community actions include Charlotte Area Transit System, Federal Railroad Administration, North Carolina Railroad Company, NCDOT Rail, Norfolk Southern, CSXT, the US Army, Amtrak, NCSHP and the NC Trucking Association. Working in heat and freezing cold with the partners were local law enforcement and Fire and Life Safety educators. The NC Transportation Museum hosted a Boy Scout camporee and helped the scouts earn their railroad merit badges, which includes a section on Operation Lifesaver rail education. Thomas the Tank also helped OL at Spencer when the families came to experience “A Day Out with Thomas” and received rail safety education at the same time.

 

Our LLL Express worked the crowds over Rail Fest weekend in Bryson City as the Great Smoky Mt. Railroad hosted a wonderful crowd in late September. Concentrating on safety round the tracks venders, musical talent and trains were moving for three days. If you have a chance to go the Bryson City next year please go and enjoy the fun and sights. The Express also found its way to Boiling Springs Lakes and Sunny Point for safety day festivals during the summer and to Boone for the Safety festival there.

Our federal grant for the law enforcement classes, Grade Crossing Investigations and Rail Safety for Emergency Responder classes allowed us to hold 34 classes this year. 847 emergency personnel and police officers were trained in working safely around rails during emergency situations. This is extremely helpful in clearing collision areas and moving traffic and trains.

A great deal of planning has gone into covering school bus drivers and driver education classes with the rail road safety information they each need to drive safely. The total for these two groups, 541 presentations were made reaching 12,454 individuals.

 

As the economy has come to affect every type of business, we have lost a portion of our funding and are in need of support from our partners, fans and friends. The first item to suffer will be the LLL Express as we must carry insurance, pay for fuel and staff and supply handouts for the school age children. We would like to raise $20,000. If you can lend a hand and help us make up the loss we would appreciate any amount of support.

We want to welcome our newest partner, Wal Mart, and thank them for allowing their drivers to become presenters and work on safety with driver education and the general public. We are looking forward to building a strong bond between NCOL and Wal Mart with these 10 strong and dedicated presenters.

 

Watch for updates of our state stats and for events that you can share with us. Remember safety is everyone’s responsibility.

You have a choice.

Choose Safety.

Vivian Speight-Bridges

Operation Lifesaver
North Carolina State Coordinator