Safety Group’s Ads Aim to Reduce Crashes with Trains in Ohio

A rail safety group plans a campaign to reduce Ohio’s relatively high numbers of pedestrians and vehicles struck by trains.

Operation Lifesaver says Ohio ranks 7th with 113 crashes involving trains that left eight people dead and 40 injured last year.

Officials say the state has seen 13 train-related fatalities so far in 2008.

Starting in January, the group plans to air radio public service announcements in Ohio using humor to convey the serious message that trying to cross in front of a train can be deadly. The ads say it’s similar to jumping into the water if you see a shark.

The spots also will run in other key states. Operation Lifesaver Ohio coordinator Shel Senek says a person or a vehicle is hit by a train about once every two hours in the U.S.

On the Net: Operation Lifesaver ads: www.oli.org/shark/