Statistics from the Federal Railroad Administration reveal that approximately one in four railroad crossing collisions in the U.S. involve tractor-trailer trucks and other vehicles requiring a Commercial Driver's License (CDL). To address this, Operation Lifesaver, Inc. (OLI), the nonprofit public safety education and awareness organization, has updated its ProDriver Challenge eLearning program helping drivers make safe choices when navigating railroad crossings along their routes.
The ProDriver Challenge offers an interactive online learning experience, found here, for CDL drivers, putting users at the controls of a virtual dashboard where they make important safety decisions as the driver of a box truck or 18-wheeler.
“In the simulated driving environment of the ProDriver Challenge, drivers are exposed to several driving scenarios that demand quick thinking and critical decision-making,” says OLI Executive Director Rachel Maleh. “This virtual learning environment allows drivers to learn from mistakes without real-world consequences while mastering essential safety signs, signals, and best practices. We want all professional drivers to know about this free dynamic rail safety education tool and invite them to take the ProDriver Challenge. Working together, we can stop track tragedies.”
See also: CVSA’s Brake Safety Week scheduled for Aug. 20-26
Railroads operate approximately 140,000 route miles across the country and 212,000 highway-railroad grade crossings in the U.S. Every three hours in the U.S., a person or vehicle is hit by a train.
OLI offers safety resources for professional drivers, including brochures, posters, videos, and educational Public Service Announcements on rail safety. Operation Lifesaver Authorized Volunteers, or OLAVs, offer free rail safety presentations to a wide range of audiences across the U.S. – including professional drivers.
Rail Safety Week is Sept. 18-24, 2023. See the schedule of events here.
