Agency expands its “Stay Off the Tracks, It’s Not Worth Your Life” rail safety program to create a new program that teaches children how to stay safe around trains and buses
In an effort to reach its youngest riders, the Chicago Transit Authority today announced that it has launched a new “Be Safe on CTA” campaign, a fun, educational program that teaches Chicago Public School (CPS) children how to ride safely on CTA trains and buses.
“Be Safe on CTA” is an extension of CTA’s ongoing rail safety campaign, “Stay Off the Tracks, It’s Not Worth Your Life” that includes signage and messages at CTA rail stations educating and informing the riding public about how to use transit safely.
CTA provides approximately 134,000 rides to school-aged children each school day.
“Customer safety and security for all ages is our top priority, and we are excited to reach out to our youngest passengers to teach them the importance of staying safe on transit,” said CTA President Dorval R. Carter, Jr. “By educating students about how to use trains and buses correctly, we can help them establish good riding habits for life.”
The 30-minute “Be Safe on CTA” curriculum consists of an educational safety video, classroom instruction led by CTA personnel, and a question-and-answer period. After each session, students are provided with an activity book to reinforce the safety concepts they have just learned. An oversized educational poster is also provided to each classroom teacher to remind students of the important safety tips they have learned.
In February 2018, CTA presented its “Be Safe on CTA” program to approximately 100 first, second and third-grade students at Genevieve Melody Elementary School in West Garfield Park. More school visits are planned throughout 2018. The Melody visit follows CTA’s successful pilot of the “Be Safe on CTA” campaign in a number of Chicago Public Schools last year. For more information about “Be Safe on CTA”, visit transitchicago.com/besafe.
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