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.