Florida Operation Lifesaver

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Florida Operation Lifesaver

• State Coordinator
• Gary Fitzpatrick, P.E.

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What is Operation Lifesaver?

• Operation Lifesaver is a Nationwide, Nonprofit
  Public Awareness Program Dedicated to reduce
  Collisions, Fatalities, and Injuries at
  Highway-Rail Grade Crossings and on Railroad
  property.

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Florida OL Mission Statement

• To end needless deaths and injuries at
  Highway-Rail Grade crossings and on railroad
  rights-of-way in Florida through Education,
  Engineering and Enforcement.

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Regional Coordinators

• The state is divided into 4 regions Northwest,
  Northeast, Central, and South Florida.
• A Regional Coordinators in each area schedules
  presentations for each geographical region.

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Florida OL Presenters

• Currently over 90 active Presenters across the
  state. Seasonal Presenters number 30.
• Target Audience is School age Children,
  Professional Drivers, School Bus Operators,
  Drivers Educators, Law Enforcement, Emergency
  Responders, and Community Leaders.

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Florida OL Presenters

• In 2005 the Operation Lifesaver message was
  presented formally to audiences totaling more
  than 58,800 people across the state.
• Approximately 3 times this number were exposed to
  the Operation Lifesaver safety message informally
  via safety fairs, brochures, etc.

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Florida OL TSAW

• Train Safety Awareness Week (TSAW) proclaimed by
  Governor Bush during April each year.
• In 2005 over 1 million Floridians statewide
  received exposure to OL message at rail-highway
  crossings or through media blitz.

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Public Service Announcements

• Florida Operation Lifesaver airs Public Service
  Announcements during Holidays and Summer when
  school is over.
• The PSAs are aired on 57 radio stations
  statewide and reach 3.5 million Floridians.

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2005 Nationwide Incidents

• 3010 Collisions
• 355 Fatalities
• 970 Injuries

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Rail/Highway Incidents in Florida
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Highway-Rail Grade Crossings Safety Trends
Rail X Hwy Volume x 1,000,000,000
Fatalities
Collisions X 10
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Rail Crossing Incidents

• Incidents
• 2004 (108) 2005 (104) (-3.7)
• Fatalities
• 2004 (19) 2005 (17) (-10.5)
• Injuries
• 2004 (35) 2005 (19) (-45.7)

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Rail Trespass Incidents

• Fatalities
• 2004 (22) 2005 (34) 54.5
• Injuries
• 2004 (13) 2005 (22) 69.2

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Florida Operation Lifesaver Goals

• Focus on growing trespassing problem in Florida.
  Utilize bi-lingual messages.
• Saturate targeted schools with Operation
  Lifesaver safety message.
• Expand presentations to more diverse and
  influential groups in multi-cultural communities.

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Florida Operation Lifesaver Goals

• Strengthen Coalitions and Alliances with other
  Safety Partners.
• Implement a Safety Strategy that expands
  Operation Lifesavers Role in the Local Community.

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