Press Release 29 April 2014 – Minister of Internal Affairs recognises promoters of public railway safety
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Today took place the “Golden Level Crossing Gates” award ceremony where organisations and private persons promoting railway safety were recognised with honorary medals and letters of appreciation that were handed over by Mr. Hanno Pevkur, Minister of Internal Affairs. The “Golden Level Crossing Gates” award went to the Harju County Department of the Estonian Health Promotion Society.
Minister of Interior Affairs Hanno Pevkur stressed that it is logical that people make their choices based on prior experience and knowledge and for that reason the continuous reminding of safe behaviour rules is the best measure for shaping safe behavioural patterns. “It is worth reminding that people’s values are established through the common efforts of various parties. I am very glad that Operation Lifesaver Estonia (OLE) has been able to involve in its systematic activities volunteers, different public agencies and responsible railway undertakings. I am sure that the awareness of people regarding the dangers present on the railway has improved considerably as a result of their joint efforts.”
This year the “Golden Level Crossing Gates” award was given to the volunteers, who have been involved in the various projects of OLE and given their significant input in communicating railway safety knowledge all around Estonia, explained Chairman of Management Board of OLE Tamo Vahemets while presenting the statue made by Saaremaa Smiths to the Harju County Department of the Estonian Health Promotion Society.
Honorary medals for the professional activities in the area of railway safety were presented to:
- Maris Orgusaar – Estonian Police and Border Guard Board, Southern Police Prefecture, Criminal Police Officer, volunteer
- Isabelle Fonverne – International Union of Railways UIC, Project Manager for international ILCAD project (France)
- Svetlana Safronova – Estonian Police and Border Guard Board, Eastern Police Prefecture, Youth Police Officer, volunteer
- Tõnu Aruste – Estonian Railways, Instructor-Locomotive Driver
- Viktor Teska – Edelaraudtee Infrastruktuuri AS, Development Specialist
The “Best Presenter 2014” award went to Tiina Kiik, Youth Police Officer of the Southern Police Prefecture of the Estonian Police and Border Guard Board. Around 40 letters of recognition were presented to both private persons and organisations.
Tamo Vahemets said that during the last 10 years the number of railway accidents has shown a declining trend, which indicates that the awareness of the general public is improving on an annual basis and the traffic culture is getting better as well. “I believe that an effective cooperation network would help us in achieving our overall objective – no fatalities on railways.”
In the previous years the “Golden Level Crossing Gates” award has been presented to the Tallinn City Government, Liivika Juksaar, Kristiine Shopping Mall, Tarmo Miilits, Western Estonia Rescue Centre, Järvamaa Rescue Department, Andrei Sozinov, Marek Lindmaa and JCDecaux Eesti OÜ.
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OLE (Operation Lifesaver Estonia) is a non-profit organisation founded in 2004 by the initiative of AS Eesti Raudtee (Estonian Railways) with the mission to increase considerably public awareness about dangers involved in railway traffic and lawful behaviour on railway, with the purpose to reduce the number of railway accidents and people killed and injured in such accidents. OLE’s members are AS Eesti Raudtee, AS EVR Cargo, Edelaraudtee Infrastruktuuri AS and AS GoRail.
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