OLD ORCHARD BEACH — Drink coasters being distributed at area bars will remind people of pedestrian safety and the risks of walking on railroad tracks.
During a press conference Wednesday morning at the Amtrak Downeaster passenger platform, Fred Hirsch, state coordinator for Operation Lifesaver, announced the organization was providing the 5,000 coasters.
Operation Lifesaver is an all-volunteer association dedicated to educating the public of the dangers of trespassing on railroad tracks, said Hirsch.
The coasters state that more than half of pedestrians killed by trains are under the influence of drugs or alcohol. On one side, they depict a young man with a beer, and the other side, a train. The coaster reads: “The Most Lopsided Clash in History.”
“Hopefully, it will be a very subtle reminder,” said Hirsch, of the safety concerns with pedestrians and railroad tracks.
Hirsch said Old Orchard Beach is the first town to receive the coasters, and the group started with Old Orchard Beach because of the proximity of the railroad tracks to bars and night clubs.
“We see about a million tourists in the summer season, and we think this is a great program,” said Rich Redmond of the Bar and Restaurant Association of Old Orchard Beach, or BRASS, the organization that will distribute the coasters.
Old Orchard Beach Police Lt. Tim Deluca said police work with groups such as railroad police, community watch and BRASS to keep the community safe and educate tourists and residents.
Patricia Quinn, executive director of the Northern New England Passenger Rail Authority, said the organization supports and appreciates Operation Lifesaver’s efforts. Quinn said the Northern New England Passenger Rail Authority does what it can to keep train operations and the passengers safe, but there is also a responsibility on the public to do their part and respect right-of-ways.
According to information from Operation Lifesaver, it can take a train a mile or more to stop.
— Staff Writer Liz Gotthelf can be contacted at 282-1535, ext. 325 or [email protected].
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