Railway Safety Week 2009

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The fifth railway safety week is organised to remind people of the dangers involved in railway traffic. In addition to an advertising campaign with the message “Let the train pass! – Let’s save lives!” there will be several railway safety presentations made all over Estonia, Operation Lifesaver Estonia starts the installation of warning signs and thanks its active supporters at the “Golden Level Crossing Gates 2009” award ceremony.

“The Railway Safety Week is to remind people about the dangers present on railways and we are organising it already for the fifth year,” said Tamo Vahemets, Chairman of the Management Board of Operation Lifesaver Estonia (OLE). “Within the framework of the safety week is organised a safety campaign with its message being communicated in city environment, over the radio and in printed media. The slogan of the campaign is “Let the train pass! – Let’s save lives.“ We try to increase people’s awareness about several dangers present at railway-road crossings for both passengers and motor vehicle users. We will be working in various regions of our country: organise railway safety presentations and install warning signs,“ told Tamo Vahemets.

“The warning signs will be displayed in cooperation with AS Eesti Raudtee (Estonian Railways). The warning signs remind to people that walking on railway track is forbidden by law and punishable. 150 additional warning signs will be displayed throughout the year 2009,“ explained Tamo Vahemets. “Tallinn, Tartu and Pärnu cities will be decorated with posters carrying railway safety message. The posters depict so-called Lighties who are the eyes of the Traffic Light Boy. The Lighties call people to notice trains and pay attention to the dangers.“

 The programme of this year’s “Golden Level Crossing Gates” event is the following:

* presenting an overview of the work and achievements of the previous year;
* introducing plans for this year;
* presenting the “Golden Level Crossing Gates 2009” award to a natural or legal person whose last year’s work has facilitated improvements in the area of railway safety. Meanwhile, railway safety work cannot be the daily job of this person;
* presenting for the first time the “Best Presenter” award to person(s) whose railway safety presentations have received the most of positive feedback from audience;
* Estonian Railway Culture Foundation presents to OLE a cheque for EEK 250,000 for supporting its railway safety work in 2009;
* thanking the supporters.

NPO Operation Lifesaver Estonia (OLE) (www.ole.ee) has worked throughout its history for bringing together companies, organisations and private persons who consider important railway safety. OLE organises coordinated activities for increasing people’s awareness on dangers present on railway with the general aim to reduce the number of people losing their lives on railway tracks. OLE was founded on 19 November 2004. OLE follows the principles of Operation Lifesaver Inc. (www.oli.org) founded in 1972 by the Association of American Railroads, National Corporation of Railroad Passengers and Railroad Promotion Institute and is an affiliate of this organisation.

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Additional information:
Tamo Vahemets
Chairman of Management Board of NPO Operation Lifesaver Estonia
EM ole@ole.ee
phone +372 615 6777
GSM +372 504 5112