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About LA OL

Louisiana Operation Lifesaver

Operation Lifesaver is a nonprofit public safety education and awareness organization dedicated to reducing collisions, fatalities and injuries at highway-rail crossings and trespassing on or near railroad tracks.

Operation Lifesaver wants you and your neighbors to be safe around tracks and trains! Our volunteer speakers are available, free of charge, to provide important safety information to professional truck and bus drivers, school bus drivers, drivers education classes, elementary school students, law enforcement and emergency responders among other groups.

Why is Operation Lifesaver Needed?

Sadly, every year people in Louisiana are killed or injured at highway-rail crossings and at other locations along railroad tracks.

Many people are unaware that trains cannot stop quickly to avoid collisions or, they take chances by ignoring warning signs and signals, going around lowered gates, stopping on tracks, or simply not paying attention when approaching highway-rail crossings. People also make the potentially fatal mistake of choosing railroad tracks as shortcuts or as places to walk or run for recreation. They may not realize that walking on train tracks is illegal, or understand how quickly and quietly a train can approach. Our safety tips can save your life – or the life of someone you love.

LA OL Events

Date Event
September 20th - 26th National Rail Safety Week
September 21st Operation Clear Track
July 14th - 15th Leadership Conference (virtual)
September 29th - October 1st State Coordinator's Summit

LA OL Statistics

Year Hwy/Rail Incidents H/R Fatalities H/R Inj. Trespass Fatalities Tres. Inj.
2020 81 1 59 5 7
2019 97 6 36 6 8
2018 90 7 36 7 15
2017 87 6 34 7 11
2016 84 10 53 9 10
2015 78 13 39 6 13
2014 83 13 49 7 13
2013 72 6 31 7 12
2012 79 8 49 6 12
2011 96 9 68 4 8
2010 106 13 65 11 6
2009 84 11 35 10 5
2008 113 15 43 6 9
2007 121 14 57 8 11
2006 144 8 80 14 17
2005 131 20 44 10 11
2004 167 23 66 11 7
2003 146 15 43 7 13
2002 149 12 65 16 13
2001 161 22 93 10 8
2000 181 14 88 2 14
1999 180 20 72 8 8
1998 214 25 101 7 11
1997 203 30 111 5 16
1996 231 31 119 6 9
1995 223 28 105 8 18
1994 225 18 107 11 13
1993 224 26 101 16 20
1992 257 32 149 7 9
1991 258 7 143 8 17
1990 274 29 176 11 18
1989 258 26 156 6 14
1988 287 15 138 7 8
1987 256 13 97 5 4
1986 321 22 141 4 5
1985 277 17 159 3 3
1984 381 28 144 13 17
1983 325 13 116 5 4
1982 373 15 163 7 13
1981 420 30 201 10 11
1980 462 23 276 10 19
1979 473 20 220 9 16
1978 486 31 182 8 12
1977 453 25 195 8 8

Become a Volunteer

Louisiana Operation Lifesaver is always looking for volunteers to educate the public on the dangers of railroad crossings and railroads' rights-of-way. If you are interested in making your community safer, follow the steps below:

  1. Visit the OLI Volunteers Page
  2. Complete the OLAV Online Application
  3. OLI National reviews all applications for approval
  4. Approved applicants will receive and email containing further instructions
  5. After a brief face-to-face meeting, you are now an Operation Lifesaver Authorized Volunteer!

LA OL Board Members

The 12-member Louisiana Operation Lifesaver board represents state agencies as well as some of the biggest railroad companies in the state. They work together to make the Operation Lifesaver missions of safety and education a reality.

Name Company
James Anderson LA State Police
Jeremy Bush New Orleans Public Belt
Morris Evans Canadian National
Jennifer Grigsby LA Operation Lifesaver
William Jacobs G&W
Trey Jesclard LADOTD
Danny Lites Kansas City Southern
Mike Mclean Amtrak
P. B. Rivera BNSF
Buck Russel Union Pacific
Peggy Smith CSX
Brit Sonnier Watco
Steve Strength LTRC

Louisiana Railroad Map

Contact Louisiana Operation Lifesaver

Jennifer Grigsby Executive Director

(225) 921-8381 (mobile)