CARLSBAD, Calif. – On Tuesday, September 24, the City of Carlsbad Police Department, the Amtrak Police Department and the nonprofit, Operation Lifesaver, will participate in “OperationClear Track.”
The event takes place during Rail Safety Week which is September 22-28. The goal is to raise railroad safety awareness through education and the enforcement of state railroad grade crossing and trespassing laws.
Over 600 law enforcement agencies nationwide will participate in 48 states. “Operation Clear Track” is the single largest rail safety law enforcement initiative in the United States.
During “Operation Clear Track,” Carlsbad officers will be stationed at the Carlsbad Village Drive and Grand Avenue railroad grade crossings from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. The initiative hopes to reduce track related pedestrian and driver injuries and fatalities.
According to Stay Off the Tracks, in 2018, there were 2,205 railroad grade crossing incidents nationwide. Eight hundred twenty-eight peopled were killed or injured trespassing on the railroad right-of-way and 230 people committed suicide or attempted to commit suicide by train. This rail safety partnership during Rail Safety Week hopes to raise awareness of the dangers around railroad tracks.
For more information about “Operation Clear Track,” safety tips and statistics, visit the Operation Lifesaver website at www.oli.org or www.stayoffthetracks.org.
For more information
Lt. Christie Calderwood, 760-931-3820, or Christie.calderwood@carlsbadca.gov
