Public Affairs
Department
P.O. Box 1989
West Palm Beach, FL 33402-1989
(561) 355-2754
FAX: (561) 355-3819
http://www.pbcgov.com
Palm Beach County
Board of County
Commissioners
Shelley Vana
Chair
Steven L. Abrams
Vice Chair
Karen T. Marcus,
Paulette Burdick
Burt Aaronson
Jess R. Santamaria
Priscilla A. Taylor
County Administrator
Robert Weisman
"An equal opportunity
Affirmative Action Employer"
Electronic Press Release
Commissioner Newell to Participate in Train Safety Awareness Week Event
Contact: Bob Dovey, 561-355-3279
On Tuesday, April 17th, at 8:30 a.m., County Commissioner Warren Newell will join Mike Elias, South Florida Regional Coordinator, Operation LifeSaver, representatives of the Lake Clarke Shores Police Department, Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office and the Safety Council of Palm Beach County, in a Train Safety Awareness Week safety blitz.
They will meet at the intersection of Forest Hill Boulevard (West Palm Beach) and the CSX Railroad and will provide motorists with information on highway-rail grade crossings safety, including the proper recognition and use of grade crossing signs and signals.
Recently, Governor Charlie Crist executed a proclamation for Train Safety Awareness Week, citing statistics that Florida was ranked third in the nation in trespass fatalities.
The proclamation also stated that 503 highway-rail grade crossing crashes resulted in 151 personal injuries and were responsible for 73 fatalities in the State over the last five years. Also, 238 trespassing incidences occurred resulting in 149 pedestrian fatalities and another 89 injured while trespassing on railroad property right-of-way in the same time period.
Considering that it can take over one-and-one half miles (equivalent to 18 football fields) for a train to stop once the emergency brakes are applied, Commissioner Newell wants to remind motorists and pedestrians of the dangers of not carefully observing and obeying train safety rules.