Find the blue and white to save your life

Railroad crossing safety is always an important matter and Union Pacific Railroad is saying “Find the blue and white to save your life” in a series of English and Spanish language public service announcements.

The American Sugar Cane League will work with Union Pacific to promote the safety message on its LaCane.org website and social media outlets.

The PSAs emphasize that at all railroad crossings is a blue and white sign with a toll-free number to call if motorists get stuck on a crossing. The blue and white sign will have the dispatching railroads toll-free phone number and the crossing identification number.

As a pre-emptive measure, sugarcane farmers can call the number at a particular crossing to advise the dispatcher of harvest activities at public and private railroad crossings. Written orders will be issued to train crews about harvest activities and dictate that the crew will sound whistles and activate all available crossing bells.

“The advanced notification is a huge opportunity for our Train Crews to know what to expect while operating trains,” said Buck Russel of UP’s public safety office. “The notification also goes to our police, operating, senior leadership, maintenance, engineering, and safety teams.”

Russel recommends calling the phone number on the blue and white sign at the railroad crossing but another emergency number, 888-877-7267 (888-UPRR-COP), is also available. The phone numbers on the blue and white signs and the 888-UPRR-COP numbers call the Union Pacific Emergency Center in Omaha

There are also educational opportunities for railroad safety teams to go to selected crossings and pass out traffic safety information to farm drivers and other motorists.

The PSA message is clear:

In an emergency of stuck on the tracks?

Immediately exit your vehicle.

Find the blue and white emergency notification system (ENS) sign.

Never get near the tracks if a train is approaching.

Call the toll-free number and give them the crossing number so they know your location.

Find the blue and white to save your life.

For more information, visit www.upcares.com.