The Regional Transit Authority (RTA) in New Orleans recently launched a new public safety campaign specifically targeted to pedestrians, drivers, joggers, cyclists and all who encounter the streetcars on a regular basis.
The overall goal of the campaign titled, "Tracks Can Kill: Live Outside the Lines," is to educate the public about the safest ways to coexist with streetcars in an effort to eliminate all preventable accidents, according to an RTA statement.
Through the use of television PSAs, advertisements on RTA vehicles, brochures, flyers and social media, the safety campaign grabs the viewer's attention with creative and direct messaging encouraging citizens to "think again" so that they avoid dangers while near a streetcar line.
Because pedestrians and drivers are often unaware of the potential dangers of a rail line, streetcar operators have few options when a pedestrian or driver comes into the immediate path of a moving streetcar, resulting in an unnecessary incident. This safety campaign brings greater awareness to the hazards associated with jogging and cycling on the tracks and encourages motorists to treat the median, or neutral ground as an additional lane of traffic, according to the RTA.
Safety is the number one priority of Veolia Transportation and the RTA. The goal of the campaign is to inform the citizens of the important role they can play in protecting themselves and the historic streetcars. The RTA's priority is to decrease streetcar accidents and save lives.
In an effort to meet this goal, the RTA's safety campaign also encourages citizens to always look both ways before crossing the track; look left before making left hand turns when driving along the rail lines; never walk, run, sit or play on the tracks; keep children close while near tracks, and use good judgment and remain alert when near rail lines.