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Governor James B. Hunt, Jr. Proclaims May 12 As North Carolina Operation Lifesaver Awareness Day

11 May 1999

Governor James B. Hunt, Jr. Proclaims May 12 As North Carolina Operation Lifesaver Awareness Day

    RALEIGH, N.C., May 11 -- Governor James B. Hunt, Jr. has
officially proclaimed Wednesday, May 12, 1999 as North Carolina Operation
Lifesaver Awareness Day for the State of North Carolina.
    The ninth annual National Operation Lifesaver Awareness Day appropriately
coincides with National Transportation Week, which is May 9-15.
    Operation Lifesaver is a public information and education program
dedicated to reducing crashes, injuries and fatalities at our some 5,000
highway-rail grade crossings and on railroad right-of-way.
    During the last two years in North Carolina, there were 21 people killed
and 106 injured in grade crossing crashes, according to Jane Mosley, State
Coordinator, N.C. Operation Lifesaver.  Additionally, 38 pedestrian/trespasser
deaths have occurred.
    North Carolina ranks fourteenth in the number of train/vehicle collisions
in the United States and ranks seventh in the nation in trespasser deaths.
    In an effort to eliminate these needless fatalities and injuries, N.C.
Operation Lifesaver will be conducting grade crossing blitzes throughout North
Carolina.  These sites include Salisbury, Lexington, High Point, Raleigh,
Pembroke, Morehead City, and Rocky Mount.  Operation Lifesaver Day activities
will also be held at the N.C. General Assembly.  We want to encourage every
citizen in North Carolina to Look, Listen, and Live!!

                          OL Week Crossing Blitz

    We will meet at the designated crossing thirty minutes before each blitz
for a safety briefing and instructions.  Any questions should be directed to
Dean Denham or Jane Mosley at (919) 831-3006.

    Tuesday, May 11, 1999

    Salisbury, NC - Henderson Street (NS - Amtrak)
          9:00 AM to 11:00 AM
    Lexington, NC - East 15th Street (NS - Amtrak)
          1:30 PM to 3:30 PM

    Wednesday, May 12, 1999

    High Point, NC - Hoskins Street (NS - Amtrak)
          9:00 AM to 11:00 AM
    Raleigh, NC - Cabarrus Street (NS - Amtrak)
          1:30 PM to 3:30 PM

    Thursday, May 13, 1999

    Pembroke, NC - NC 710 (CSX - Amtrak)
          9:00 AM to 11:00 AM
    Morehead City - 30th Street (NS)
          1:30 PM to 3:30 PM

    Friday, May 14, 1999

    Rocky Mount, NC - Bassett Street & CSX (CSX - Amtrak)
          9:00 AM to 11:00 AM


                   OPERATION LIFESAVER AWARENESS DAY

                                  1999

                 BY THE GOVERNOR OF THE STATE 0F NORTH CAROLINA

                            A PROCLAMATION

    WHEREAS, the State of North Carolina is a leader in supporting safety
programs at highway-rail grade crossings; and

    WHEREAS, highway-rail grade crossing crashes over the past two years
resulted in 21 persons killed and another 106 injured in the State of North
Carolina.  Additionally, 38 pedestrian/trespasser deaths have occurred; and

    WHEREAS, such crossing crashes are more severe than highway collisions and
are 40 times more likely to result in death and injury; and

    WHEREAS, many of these crashes could have been prevented by increased
public awareness of the crossing dangers and the appropriate driving safety
laws; and

    WHEREAS, Operation Lifesaver is the foremost public information and
education program dedicated to preventing highway-rail grade crossing crashes;

    NOW, THEREFORE, I, JAMES B. HUNT JR., Governor of the State of North
Carolina, do hereby proclaim May 12, 1999, as "Operation Lifesaver Awareness
Day" in North Carolina, and encourage all citizens to observe added caution
when approaching grade crossings and to participate in activities to reduce
crossing crashes during this day and throughout the year.