Missouri Operation Lifesaver

About MO OL

History
Operation Lifesaver started in 1972 when the average number of collisions at U.S. highway-rail grade crossings had risen above 12,000 incidents annually. To address this, the Idaho governor's office, along with the Idaho Peace Officers and Union Pacific Railroad launched a six-week public awareness educational campaign called Operation Lifesaver to promote highway-rail grade crossing safety. After Idaho's crossing-related fatalities fell that year by 43%, the successful program was adopted by Nebraska (1973) and Kansas and Georgia the following year. Missouri adopted the program in October 1977. Within a decade it had spread around the country; in 1986 a non-profit national Operation Lifesaver office was created to help support the efforts of state OL programs and raise national awareness on highway-rail grade crossing issues.

What is Missouri Operation Lifesaver?
Missouri Operation Lifesaver (MO OL) is a nonprofit public safety education and awareness organization dedicated to reducing collisions, fatalities and injuries at highway-rail crossings and trespassing on or near railroad tracks. OL promotes rail safety through public awareness campaigns and education initiatives, including free safety presentations by authorized volunteers. We speak to school groups, driver education classes, community audiences, professional drivers, law enforcement officers, emergency responders, and others. Our program is co-sponsored by state and local government agencies, highway safety organizations, America's railroads, and other entities. Together we promote the three E's - education, enforcement and engineering - to keep people safe around the tracks and railway crossings within our communities. MO OL is part of a national nonprofit program known as Operation Lifesaver, Inc. (OLI).

Why is Operation Lifesaver Needed?
Sadly, every year people in Missouri are killed or injured at highway-rail crossings and at other locations along railroad tracks.
Many people are unaware that trains cannot stop quickly to avoid collisions; or, they take chances by ignoring warning signs and signals, going around lowered gates, stopping on tracks, or simply not paying attention when approaching highway-rail crossings. People also make the potentially fatal mistake of choosing railroad tracks as shortcuts or as places to walk or run for recreation. They may not realize that walking on train tracks is illegal, or understand how quickly and quietly a train can approach. Our safety tips can save your life – or the life of someone you love.

Become an Operation Lifesaver Authorized Volunteer
We are always looking for high-energy volunteers to help us spread our important message. Our volunteers are everywhere—schools, training programs, law enforcement events and safety fairs—with the common purpose of keeping our citizens safe. You can begin the process today by clicking on this link oli.org/training/volunteer-for-oli.

MO OL Events

2021 RAIL SAFETY WEEK

September 20 - 26, 2021

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MO OL Safety Partners

Missouri Operation Lifesaver is sponsored by and in safety partnerhip with:

• Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway (BNSF)
• Kansas City Southern Railroad (KCS)
• Norfolk Southern Railway (NS)
• Union Pacific Railroad (UP)
• Arkansas & Missouri Railroad (AMR)
• MetroLink/Bi-State Development Agency (BSDA)
• Central Midland Railway (CMR)
• Canadian Pacific Railroad (CP)
• Kaw River Railroad (KAW)
• Kansas City Terminal Railway (KCT)
• Missouri & Northern Arkansas Railroad (MNA)
• Pemiscot County Port Authority Railroad
• SEMO Port Railroad
• Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT)
• Missouri State Highway Patrol (MSHP)
• Missouri Coalition For Roadway Safety (MCRS)
• Missouri School Bus Task Force
• Federal Railroad Administration (FRA)