Montana Operation Lifesaver
About MT OL
Montana Operation Lifesaver would like to wish everybody a safe 2023 year! When you're traveling for work, fun, or heading home. Always remember "See Tracks, Think Train"!
CHECK OUT OUR EVENTS PAGE!
What is Montana Operation Lifesaver?
Montana Operation Lifesaver (MTOL) is a nonprofit public safety education and awareness organization dedicated to reducing collisions, fatalities and injuries at highway-rail crossing and trespassing on or near railroad tracks. 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 locala 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 crossing within our communities. MTOL is part of a national nonprofit program known as Operation Lifesaver, Inc..
Why is Operation Lifesaver Needed?
Sadly, every year people in Montana 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.
Become an Operation Lifesaver Authorized Volunteer
We are always looking for high-energy volunteers to help us spread our important message. Our volunteers are everywhere—schools, training programs, law enforcement events and safety fairs – with the common purpose of keeping our citizens safe. You can begin the process today by clicking here.
MT OL Events
2023 Montana Operation Lifesaver Events are in Planning.
If you have an event that you would like Montana Operation Lifesaver at please contact us!
MPPA Annual Meeting - Billings, MT - June 19-23, 2023
Montana Operation Lifesaver (MTOL) wants to thank the Montana Police Protective Association (MPPA) for its continued support of Montana Operation Lifesaver and for the services they provide to Montana's Police Officers. MPPA provided a booth for us to promote our rail safety message. A big thank you to Jerry Williams for attending to this booth and providing information about MTOL.
Rural Road Safety Awareness, National Farm Safety Week July 17- 21 and National Farm Safety Week September 17-23.
Operation Lifesaver wants all farmers and farm machinery operators to be safe in the field. Learn how to keep yourself and your equipment safe. Click on the link to learn more.
oli.org/safety-near-trains/driving-safely-near-tracks/farmers-and-farm-machine-operators
Townsend Fair August 3 - 5, 2023
Had a nice turnout of folks that stop by our safety booth, where we shared our rail safety message. On top of this, our wonderful volunter Libby did a float in the Townsend parade promoting rail safety. They handed out safety brochures and keychains and Libby said they had a great time!
National Night Out - August 29, 2023 in Havre
Come say Hi! to our great volunteers at this event. They'll have a rail safety booth to learn more about rail safety and they'll have some fun give outs to help you to remember our safety messages.
Rail Safety Week September 18-24, 2023
Save the date for Rail Safety Week, Sept. 18-24, 2023! Together, we can #STOPTrackTragedies. Rail Safety Week is a collaborative effort among Operation Lifesaver, Inc., state Operation Lifesaver programs, and rail safety partners across the U.S., Canada and Mexico.
MT OL Safety Partners
Montana Operation Lifesaver is supported by numerous partners who contribute both financially and through in-kind donations of time and talents. For more information about becoming an MTOL partner, please contact us through the information provided on the right of this page.
MT OL Rail Safety Partners
Amtrak
BNSF Railway
Federal Highway Administration
Federal Railroad Administration
Montana Department of Transportation
Montana Highway Patrol
Montana Office of Public Instruction
Montana Police Protective Association
Montana Public Service Commission
Montana Rail Link
Port of Montana
Union Pacific Railroad
Central Montana Railroad
MT OL Statistics
Montana Rail Crossing and Trespasser Incidents 2018 through December 2022
Source: FRA Office of Safety Analysis
• All train tracks are private property. Never walk on tracks; it's illegal and dangerous. It takes the average freight train traveling at 55 mph more than a mile—the length of 18 football fields—to stop. Trains cannot stop quickly enough to avoid a collision.
• Trains have the right of way 100% of the time over emergency vehicles, cars, the police and pedestrians.
• Trains can move 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.
• Today's trains are quieter than ever, producing no telltale "clackety-clack." Any approaching train is always closer, moving faster, than you think.
• Remember to cross train tracks ONLY at designated pedestrian or roadway crossings, and obey all warning signs and signals posted there.
• Stay alert around railroad tracks. Refrain from texting, headphones or other distractions that would prevent you from hearing an approaching train; never mix rails and recreation.
• Never drive around lowered gates — it's illegal and deadly.
