Illinois Operation Lifesaver

About IL OL

Illinois Operation Lifesaver ( IL OL) is a non-profit public safety education and awareness organization dedicated to reducing collisions, injuries, and fatalities at highway-rail crossings along Illinois nearly 7400 miles of active rail lines.

IL 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. IL OL is part of a national nonprofit program known as Operation Lifesaver, Inc. (OLI).

IL OL Events

No Upcoming Events

IL OL Safety Partners

Illinois Operation Lifesaver collaborates with dedicated safety partners, including railroads, law enforcement, government agencies, and community organizations, to promote rail safety and prevent collisions, injuries, and fatalities at highway-rail crossings and along railroad tracks. Through education, enforcement, and engineering initiatives, our safety partners play a vital role in spreading awareness and saving lives across Illinois.

IL OL Statistics

To view the most current statistics, please visit the Federal Railroad Administration/ FRA page.

*Preliminary Statistics

Why is OL Needed?

Sadly, every year people in Illinois 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.

Rail Safety Tips

Emergency Notification Sign (ENS)

STUCK ON A RAILROAD CROSSING?

1. GET OUT (even if there is no train)
2. GET AWAY (train approaching? run in direction of the train at a 45 degree angle)
3. FIND THE BLUE & WHITE, ENS SIGN (located on all rail crossings)

Track Safety Basics

1. Freight trains don't travel at fixed times. Schedules for passenger trains often change. Always expect a train.
2. All train tracks are private property. Never walk on tracks; it's illegal trespass and highly dangerous.
3. It takes the average freight train traveling 55 mph more than a mile—the length of 18 football fields—to stop. Trains cannot stop quickly.
4. The average locomotive weighs about 400,000 pounds or 200 tons; it can weigh up to 6,000 tons. This makes the weight ratio of a car to a train proportional to that of a soda can to a car. We all know what happens to a soda can hit by a car.
5. Trains have the right of way 100% of the time over pedestrians and vehicles, including police and emergency vehicles.
6. Trains overhang tracks. Stay 15 feet back from the tracks. Always assume railroad tracks are in use, even if there are weeds or the track looks unused.
7. Trains can move on any track, in either direction at any time. Sometimes its cars are pushed by locomotives instead of being pulled, which is especially true in commuter and light rail passenger service.
8. Trains are quieter and moving faster than you think – only trains belong on the tracks Today's trains are quieter than ever, producing no telltale "clackety-clack."
9. Remember to cross train tracks ONLY at designated pedestrian or roadway crossings, and obey warning signs and signals posted there.
   10. Stay alert around railroad tracks. Refrain from texting, using headphones or other distractions that would prevent you from hearing an approaching train; never mix rails and recreation.

As part of our mission to reduce deaths and injuries at highway-rail grade crossings and around tracks and trains, Operation Lifesaver, Inc. offers rail safety tips for drivers, pedestrians, and an array of audiences.

We need you!

Request a Presentation

Illinois Operation Lifesaver is an important part of an international non-profit educational organization dedicated to safety at railroad crossings and along railroad right of way. We invite you to learn more by clicking the brief video about Operation Lifesaver and welcome new volunteers with an interest in making our communities safer. Please watch the video "The Difference Starts with You" see how you can help.

Help is always needed to get the OL safety message out to new and different audiences. It is our goal to have presenters in every community who can speak to driver education classes, truck drivers, school programs, etc.

Become an Operation Lifesaver Authorized Volunteer!
OLAV ApplicationDo you have a group that would benefit from a free presentation on highway-rail grade crossing safety and rail trespass prevention? No problem. Operation Lifesaver's network of authorized volunteers offer free rail safety programs in school classrooms, to driver ed students, community service and civic groups, professional bus, truck and emergency first responder drivers and others.

Our trained volunteers are located throughout the country. Request a presentation with the form below:
Request a Presentation

TAKE THE RAIL SAFETY PLEDGE!

TAKE RAIL SAFETY PLEDGE

Take the Adults Rail Safety Pledge
Take the Kids Rail Safety Pledge

Take the Adults Transit Safety Pledge
Take the Kids TransitSafety Pledge