Title
To Recognize September 24th to 30th, 2017 as Ohio Rail Safety Week in the City of Columbus
Body
WHEREAS, the City of Columbus is a leader in supporting highway-rail grade crossing and pedestrian safety programs; and
WHEREAS, in 2016 in the State of Ohio, pedestrian and railroad trespass incidents on railroad property resulted in 16 persons killed and another 18 injured though collisions could have been prevented, and
WHEREAS, highway-grade crossing crashes are more severe than highway collisions and are more likely to result in death and injury, resulting in 7 persons killed and another 27 injured last year while ranking in the Top 10 causes of both vehicle and trespasser casualties in the United States with 75% of the highway-grade crossing in Ohio occurred at crossings with active warning devices; and
WHEREAS, Operation Lifesaver is the foremost public information and education program dedicated to preventing highway-rail grade crossing crashes and pedestrian/railroad trespass incidents; and
WHEREAS, during Ohio Rail Safety Week and throughout the year, all citizens are encouraged to observe added caution as motorists or pedestrians near tracks or trains; and
WHEREAS, this important observance should lead to greater public awareness of the dangers at crossings and the appropriate safety laws resulting in a reduction in highway-rail grade crossings crashes and pedestrian/railroad incidents; now, therefore
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
That this Council does hereby recognize September 24th to 30th, 2017 as Ohio Rail Safety Week in the City of Columbus and encourage all citizens to participate in activities to reduce crossing crashes and pedestrian/railroad trespass incidents during this week and throughout the year.