HR0750 102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0750 LRB102 26672 MST 37473 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives wish to congratulate Operation Lifesaver on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of its founding; and

WHEREAS, The State of Illinois is a leader in supporting highway-rail grade crossing and pedestrian safety programs; and

WHEREAS, Since its inception in 1972, Operation Lifesaver has been the foremost public information and education program dedicated to preventing highway-rail grade crossing crashes and pedestrian/railroad trespass incidents; and

WHEREAS, Operation Lifesaver is sponsored cooperatively by the federal government, the State of Illinois, local government agencies, civic and business organizations, the nation's railroads, and other groups interested in highway safety; and

WHEREAS, Through the unrelenting efforts of Operation Lifesaver and its public safety partners, the number of train/motor vehicle collisions has been reduced from a high in 1972 of roughly 12,000 annual incidents to approximately 2,200 incidents in 2019; and

WHEREAS, While the number of highway-rail crossing collisions, deaths, and injuries has dropped over the past five decades, the mission is still important, as every three hours in the U.S. a person or vehicle is hit by a train; and

WHEREAS, Highway-grade crossing crashes are more severe than highway collisions and are more likely to result in death and injury; and

WHEREAS, Collisions between trains and motor vehicles or pedestrians can be reduced by increased public awareness of the dangers at crossings and around railroad property and the appropriate safety laws; and

WHEREAS, This important observance should lead to greater safety awareness and a reduction in highway-rail grade crossings crashes and pedestrian/railroad incidents; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDRED SECOND GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate Operation Lifesaver on its 50th anniversary and commend all Illinois freight and passenger railroad stakeholders who have supported the program's progress in the State of Illinois; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we encourage all citizens to participate in activities to reduce crossing crashes and pedestrian/railroad trespass incidents throughout the year; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Operation Lifesaver as a symbol of our respect and esteem.