Metra today launched the 11th edition of its annual Safety Poster and Essay Contest, asking students to illustrate through posters and essays how and why they should “Keep Yourself(ies) Safe: Look, Listen Live” when near railroad tracks and crossings.
Since 2006, Metra has been bringing safety lessons into classrooms across northeast Illinois through its Safety Poster and Essay Contest. Over the past decade, more than 31,000 students have had the opportunity to show what they’ve learned about the importance of safe behaviors around trains and railroad tracks. The contest is open to all students in grades K through 12 living or attending school in Metra’s six-county service area: Cook, DuPage, Kane, Lake, McHenry and Will. The deadline for all entries is Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2017.
“Our goal is to expose more young people to the lessons of railroad safety through this contest and, ultimately, prevent unnecessary tragedies on our tracks,” said Metra Executive Director/CEO Don Orseno. “The theme this year focuses on social media, particularly taking photos near our tracks. It’s an extremely dangerous behavior that has already resulted in multiple incidents across the U.S. We want people young and old to understand that a cool photo is never worth your life.”
In 2015 alone, 465 people lost their lives in the U.S. when trespassing on railroad property, according to statistics compiled by the Federal Railroad Administration, and 237 people were killed last year in collisions at railroad crossings.
Over the next few weeks, posters advertising the contest will be arriving at schools, libraries and local government centers across the region. Printable versions of the contest poster in English and Spanish are also available through the contest website metracontest.com.
“Trains and tracks impact nearly every community in the region, so it’s vital that we continue to teach children and their parents about the importance of respecting and staying away from railroad property,” said Orseno. “The safety contest has been a terrific outreach tool for this message. The best part is that the children who participate get to take what they’ve learned about railroad safety and reinforce those lessons by creating effective safety messages.”
The Safety Poster Contest is a key part of Metra’s ongoing effort to increase public awareness about lifesaving railroad safety practices. One first-, second- and third-place winner will be selected from each grade, K through 12, and awarded the following prizes:
First Place: iPad
Second Place: $250 gift card
Third Place: $100 gift card
The winning designs will be featured in Metra’s safety calendar, website, station displays and on weekend passes.
Metra will also recognize the school that submits the most entries in the 2016-2017 Safety Poster Contest by awarding it a new computer compatible with the school’s current system. Each school’s entries will be totaled after the contest deadline on Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2017.
Students are also encouraged to enter the 2016-2017 Metra Safety Essay Contest. Contest participants are asked to describe in 300 words or less how to “Keep Yourself(ies) Safe” when near trains and railroad tracks. First-place winners in the essay contest will also receive an iPad.
For more information about the contest rules and guidelines, as well as downloadable entry forms, please visit the contest website at metracontest.com, where you can submit your completed contest entry. Become a fan of the Metra contest Facebook page for exclusive news and announcements. Questions about the contest or materials can be directed to [email protected].
Metra has a long history of being extremely active in railroad safety education efforts through its participation in Operation Lifesaver, a railroad industry educational program that teaches train safety awareness. Metra has two Operation Lifesaver presenters who provide nearly 1,000 safety blitzes and safety presentations each year that stress the message “Look, listen and live” to schools, driver education programs and various community organizations.
