Page 30 - Operation Lifesaver Estonia / Annual Report 2012

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© Operation Lifesaver is a international, non-profit education and awareness program dedicated to ending
tragic collisions, fatalities and injuries at highway-rail grade crossings and on railroad rights of way.
Founded in Estonia on 19 November 2004 - www.ole.ee
Southern Prefecture
Maris Orgusaar
The project “A train is always on priority road”
initiated by the Southern Prefecture of the Police and
Boarder Guard Board took place for the third time.
If in the first year of the project we held lectures in
Valga and Tartu counties then in 2012 the project
covered Põlva, Jõgeva and Viljandi counties. The
project involved 13 schools and 18 classes with 563
pupils and 19 teachers.
The lectures organised within the framework of
the project informed pupils about the special
features of such dangerous vehicles as trains. The
creativity contest invited the youth to think along
on railway safety issues. The contest received 12
travel stories and 21 posters executed as group-
work. The travel stories underlined the need for care
and attentiveness. The best authors and artists were
given a prize consisting of a combined bus-train trip
to the Ahhaa Scientific Centre in Tartu. In the centre
pupils received souvenirs reminding them about the
railway related dangers and asking to pay attention.
The pupils participating in the lectures learned more
about the dangers present at railway level crossings
and the consequences of unlawful behaviour.We also
received feedback from discussion groups where
the young people brought examples how somebody
has put his or her life in danger by running across
railways in front of an approaching train.
We have already started preparations for the fourth
year of the “A train is always on priority road”
project. This time we are planning to organise it as a
part of OLE’s “You can” railway safety project aiming
at reducing the number of railway accidents and the
number of people injured or killed in such accidents.
“A train is always on priority road!”
Northern Prefecture
Kristel-Liis Kaunismaa
OLE is a good cooperation partner for the Northern
Prefecture. Most of the lectures about railway safety
are held by our police officers as a part of the KEAT
project. The KEAT lectures are organised for 6th
graders and the presenters say that in general these
pupils know about the dangers present on railways
and understand well what consequences negligence
while crossing railways or walking in railway
area may have. There are still some children who
sincerely believe that a train turns around when
reaching its destination and that having a little joke
by placing a stone or coin on rails is still allowed.
The Northern Prefecture and OLE organise already
three years a project called “You can”. This project is
targeted at fresh recruits in defence forces and lasts
for three hours. Railway safety is one of the issues
discussed. The training course is conducted during
the soldier’s introductory course period and often
involves heated discussions if the trainers talk about
walking on railway tracks. As we know, military units
often use them as walking paths during their hikes.
In addition to the major projects, railway safety
study materials are also used in different lectures
aimed at various age groups.