How You Can Help Encourage Rail Crossing Safety on ENS Sign Awareness Day

Railroaders know firsthand the importance of rail safety.

It’s not something that necessarily needs to be taught; it’s simply acquired through lived experience on the rails.

But sometimes, it’s a different story for drivers and the public.

Building Off of 2025’s First-Ever ENS Sign Awareness Day

In June of 2025, Operation Lifesaver, Inc. (OLI) held the first-ever Emergency Notification System (ENS) Sign Awareness Day to draw attention to the potentially life-saving significance of the blue and white signs at railroad crossings for the public.

The day of action was a massive success, bringing together railroads, safety advocates, and other stakeholders to amplify the importance of rail safety education.

With the second annual ENS Sign Awareness Day underway, these small but critical blue and white signs are once again in the spotlight.

No matter where you are, you can participate in one (or several) actions.

Help spread the word: click here to access a digital toolkit that you can use to raise awareness about rail safety and ENS Signs in your community. ►

You can also help Operation Lifesaver by e-mailing your effort to promote their campaign with news@oli.org, or use the hashtags #ENSSignAwarenessDay, #ENS, #ENSSign, #FindTheSign and #StopTrackTragedies on social media.  

What to Do If There’s an Emergency on the Tracks

ENS Signs list a phone number and location details that callers can relay directly to the railroad during an emergency or if they spot a safety concern near the tracks.

If your car gets stuck on a railroad crossing, get out of your vehicle and if a train is not approaching, locate the blue and white ENS sign that’s posted on the traffic signs.

Don’t forget to provide the crossing number that identifies your location so that train traffic can be alerted.

When every second counts, knowing how to locate and use the information on these blue and white signs can be the difference between life and death.  

“Find the Blue and White to Save Your Life”

With over 200,000 railroad crossings in the United States, OLI encourages all Americans to know how to find and use an ENS Sign.

The life you save could be yours.