Train Safety Awareness Week

The St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office will be participating in this year’s Train Safety Awareness Week, April 19th through 25th according to an announcement received by Historic City News today.

The annual event is coordinated by Florida Operation Lifesaver and the Community Safety Teams.

Operation Lifesaver strives to increase the public awareness about the dangers around railways, and how pedestrians and motorists alike can avoid tragic collisions. St. Johns County has experienced some of these tragic incidents, and believes these events are preventable.

“We are constantly striving to improve the highway –rail grade crossings in Florida”, said Annette Lapkowski, Operation Lifesaver’s coordinator. “However, more than half of the collisions at these public crossings occur where active warning devices, such as flashing lights and gates, exist”.

Statewide there were 29 injuries and 25 fatalities attributed to railway crossing incidents in 2008. The Sheriff’s Office is asking motorists to Look, Listen and Live when approaching highway-rail crossings this week and throughout the year. Deputies will be extra vigilant during Train Safety Week to reduce unsafe driving pratices near railway crossings.

“The intent in any traffic safety awareness or enforcement measure is to reduce dangerous driving behaviors and reduce crashes, along with the injuries and deaths that accompany them”, stated Sheriff David Shoar.