NCJ Number
195003
Journal
Police Chief Volume: 69 Issue: 3 Dated: March 2002 Pages: 38-40
Date Published
March 2002
Length
3 pages
Annotation
This article focuses on Operation Lifesaver Incorporated (OLI), a program providing police officers with the tools to advance public safety as well as railroad grade crossing collision investigation.
Abstract
The likelihood of severe injury and death for drivers and passengers is far greater in grade crossing crashes than in many other types of accidents. Fuel spills and fire hazards are much greater in these incidents due to the extreme damage resulting to a vehicle when struck by a train. Even law enforcement and other first responders face greater safety risks when dealing with a rail-highway crash because of the more dangerous environment. Operation Lifesaver started in 1972 in Idaho in response to the more than 12,000 collisions at grade crossings each year. Representatives of the Union Pacific Railroad, State law enforcement, and the governor’s office combined to present a six-week public awareness program only in Idaho. The program was so successful that crossing-related fatalities declined by 43 percent. By 1986, 49 States had started independent OLI programs. One of the most significant reasons for the grade crossing collision investigation (GCCI) program is the need for police to be aware of the severity of the collision between a train and a motor vehicle of any size. A model GCCI program was developed to ensure that the material was both technically accurate and prepared with the law enforcement officer in mind. The material is reviewed for accuracy and timeliness. There are three courses in the GCCI program: a four-hour course, a one-day course, and a two-day course. The course combines an interactive video with discussion between the participants and the instructor. The course also includes a mock investigation with step-by-step procedures. The video illustrates various types of grade crossing warning devices and aspects of rail operation including equipment, cargo, and personnel that may be found at a collision scene. It also discusses principles of rail-highway collision investigation, physical circumstances at the crash site, and information-gathering techniques unique to this type of investigation. Each participant receives a notebook that can be used as a reference guide when the officer is called to the scene of a rail-highway grade crossing collision.