Metra has launched its 13th Annual Safety Poster and Essay Contest, asking students to illustrate through posters and essays the importance of safe behaviors near the railroad. This year’s theme: “Use Your Senses” emphasizes the importance of being aware and using all your senses — including common sense — when around trains and railroad tracks.
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 35,000 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 Thursday, Jan. 31, 2019.
“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 CEO/Executive Director Jim Derwinski. “We want to encourage more students to get involved in rail safety awareness by making them authors of the message.”
In 2017 alone, 807 people were injured and 274 people lost their lives in the U.S. in collisions at railroad crossings, according to statistics compiled by the Federal Railroad Administration, and another 512 died when they were struck by trains while trespassing on railroad property. Each one of these incidents was completely preventable. That's why Metra feels it's so important to reach out and educate people, especially our children, about how to be smart and stay safe around the railroad tracks and rail crossings found throughout our region.
In the next few weeks, posters advertising the contest will be arriving at schools, libraries and local government centers across the region. 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 2018-2019 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 Thursday, Jan. 31, 2019.
Students are also encouraged to enter the 2018-2019 Metra Safety Essay Contest. Contest participants are asked to describe in 300 words or less why you should “Use Your Senses” when near railroad tracks, platforms and crossings. Students will compete in three divisions: Elementary, Middle and High School. First-place winners in each division of the essay contest will also receive an iPad.
