FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

June 16, 2002

Senator Oelslager Leads the Way to Railroad Crossing Safety with Introduction of SCR039

Senator is supported by Angels On Track Foundation whose slogan is "Bad Crossings Kill Good Drivers."

Columbus, Ohio, June 16, 2002: "It is time that as the state with the densest population per square miles to railroad miles, Ohio set aside a day to empower its citizens with information about the need for crossings to have both gates and lights," says Vicky Moore, Director of Angels on Track, an Ohio crossing safety organization. "We are pleased to support the efforts of Senator Oelslager to inform all Ohioans and to promote rail crossing safety."

The joint use of gates and lights at crossings has proved to be 90 percent effective, yet the State of Ohio has 6,412 public railroad at grade crossings, of which only 2,160 are protected by both automatic gates and flashing lights. 2,725 are protected only by crossbuck signs. "The stark reality is that for the year 2000, Ohio ranked sixth highest in the nation for the number of accidents involving trains and motor vehicles, and seventh in the overall number of deaths and thirteenth in the overall number of serious injuries resulting from such accidents," notes Ms. Moore.

The resolution points out that not only does the public need to be educated about responsible driving practices at railroad at-grade crossings, but that public officials need to be educated as to the need for the expedited installation of gates at all railroad grade crossings within this state, and that railroads have a shared responsibility for selection and funding of protective devices at railroad grade crossings.

"This concurrent resolution is proof to Ohioans that their legislature is concerned about their safety," adds Ms. Moore. "It is very appropriate that in the wake of recent accidents, this session of the legislature focuses its efforts upon such an important issue. We thank Senator Oelslager for his initiative in this pressing matter." Senate Concurrent Resolution 39 is up for vote in the Senate Highways and Transportation Committee tomorrow which is chaired by Sen. Jeffry Armbrsuter.

"Ohio leads the nation in the number of grade crossings with neither lights or gates, and therefore, it is imperative that Ohio lead the nation in at-grade crossing safety."

The Angels on Track Foundation ™ is an Ohio non-profit organization, famous for its video "Without Warning", and known nationally for its grants to help fund railroad at-grade crossing improvements and for promoting railroad safety education through its education subsidiary, Crossing to Safety™. Vicky and Dennis Moore are trustees. Their son, Ryan, was killed at an unprotected Ohio crossing in 1995.

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