D-Train and Rail Safety
Who better than the D-Train to help kick off a rail safety program with “rolling billboards” on Florida East Coast railway trains?
For the first time since the 1930s, advertising is being allowed on freight trains, thanks to a partnership among Freight Train Media; non-profit railway safety program Operation Lifesaver; and the Marlins. Marlins pitcher Dontrelle Willis and shortstop Hanley Ramirez are appearing in the ads that are running on the side of freight cars and measure approximately 13 feet long by 7 feet high.
“This is a terrific outreach to our fans and other members of the South Florida community – everyone needs to know about driving safely across rail tracks and not playing or walking near them,” Willis said in a statement.
The program kicked off Tuesday at the FEC railyard in Miami Springs. The train cars with the advertising will run between Miami and Jacksonville for the next two months. Officials say the ads could provide more than three minutes of exposure for the Operation Lifesaver and Marlins messages at one rail crossing.
The Marlins are planning an Operation Lifesaver Day at Dolphin Stadium and will run safety messages on the scoreboards this season.
Comments
Over two people a day are killed in rail accidents that can only be prevented by public education and this appears to be a great way to get the message out to those who are at grade crossings or about to trespass. Marlins are proacitve and hope more company's join them in this great public service message
Posted by: TC Johnson | April 16, 2007 6:51 PM
Michael,
I tend to think this is true in most cases, but this is an unusual case - it's for a non-profit organization that promotes rail safety and it's the first time this has been allowed on freight cars since the 1930s, I'm told. I agree there's a lot of clutter and I'm not sure if many of the companies realize that. Peyton Manning may be a great pitch guy, but not if you loved the commercial, but can't remember what he's pitching.
Posted by: Sarah | April 11, 2007 3:40 PM
I guess we won't be content until every available space on every object we see is completely covered by logos and advertising messages. I soemtimes wonder though if the clutter will reach such proportions that no message at all will get through.
Posted by: Michael Garrett | April 11, 2007 9:46 AM